Luke 9: 18-27
18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’
19 They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’20 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah.’21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’23 Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.27 ‘Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
What strikes me here is that Jesus isn’t talking in parables this time. He is blunt, straightforward in telling his disciples exactly what will happen to him. It’s odd that the disciples didn’t “get it”. They understood he was the Messiah, but didn’t understand his destiny to get there even when told directly. I wonder if any of the disciples wondered but weren’t bold enough to ask Jesus, “Why do you have to die?” As I read on, I see instructions that are meant for me as it is for all disciples for Christ. It is possibly the hardest challenge I receive from the Bible. Jesus is asking for more than just knowing who he is, but calls me to be a follower. I must deny myself and take up my cross daily. Jesus will be my treasure. He wants more for me than I can imagine.
I want to be more than a casual Christian. Am I ready for the afflictions/sufferings in this life even when I don’t under-stand? Can respond to my hardships/troubles in a godly man-ner? I must strive for Jesus to be my treasure, to live for Him, more than myself. My prayer today is more of Christ, less of me.