The most intriguing word in this passage is ‘must’. There is something essential and necessary, something non-negotiable about the suffering and death of Christ. The One who has demonstrated His absolute authority over sin and storms, over disease, the demonic and even death itself is confronted with His own ‘must’. The One who brings freedom, and who alone is free, is constrained by His own ‘must’. He ‘must’ suffer; He ‘must’ be rejected’ and He ‘must’ be killed.

It is the nature of who He is. It is the purpose of creation. One of the first things we learn in DTP is that the cross comes first in the heart and mind of God. Then creation. This is what Peter has to learn. His vision of the Messiah has no room for suffering (see Mark 8:32). He has learnt it by the time he writes his first epistle: …Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world… (1:19-20). He was chosen as the Passover Lamb before the creation of the world. Creation is what it is so that it can provide the arena for the cross. Creation depends on His offering Himself up as a sacrifice. It only makes sense if He does…

The other use of the word is equally arresting. ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, and take up their cross daily and follow me’ (v.23). That’s not how we tend to understand the Gospel. But Jesus is unequivocal. Same absolute imperative that Jesus uses to describe the non-negotiable certainty that he must die, is the same absolute imperative He uses to describe what it means to be a Christian. He then goes on to underline this with three other, equally dogmatic, assertions, each of which conflicts with our assumptions about what it means to follow Him. This isn’t Jesus explaining how to become an ‘elite’ Christian; nor is it Him painting an optional extra level of spiritual seriousness. This is the basic requirement for anyone who wants to follow Jesus.

It's worth reflecting on why we are so fearful of Jesus’ vision of what it means to follow Him. This is the same Jesus who centuries earlier has assured the Church: ‘“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you…’ (Is.48:17). It’s the kind of thing that sounds easy to believe, until He teaches us to take up our cross. Is that really what is best for us? Is this death to sinful self, is this denial of the world; is this losing of our lives for Him really what is best for us?

Questions:

How would you answer the question of what it means to begin to follow Jesus? Do you think He is exaggerating here for effect?

In what sense do we have to deny ourselves in order to follow Jesus (v.23)? How has that worked out in your experience of discipleship?

What does this image of ‘take up your cross daily’ actually mean (v.23)?

In what sense do we have to lose our lives for Christ (v.24)? What does that look like in 21st Century Ipswich?

What does it mean to lose or to forfeit our very self (v.25)?

In what ways can we be ashamed of Christ and His words? What would it mean for Christ to be ashamed of us ‘when He comes in His glory’ (v.26)?

How can MIE better equip us for this kind of Christianity? Do you think this is the only option available for being a Christian?

How can Jesus say that some will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God (v.27)? Hasn’t that been proved patently false?