“Love Demonstrated”: Matthew 16:24-27, by CountrySlicker

 ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  ²⁸ Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:24-28)

In verse 21, we are told that “Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”  Jesus’ love for man, you and me, compelled Him to leave His heavenly throne for a season in order to die on the cross, as a sacrificial lamb, to pay the debt for our sins that we could not pay for ourselves.  This was the topic of the previous devotional “Compelled”.

In verse 21, Jesus teaches about what He had to do.  Now, in the subject text above (Matthew 16:24-27), Jesus teaches the disciples what was required of them if they were to continue following Him.  Throughout the Bible, we see that being a follower of Jesus requires active participation.  There are many scriptures that speak of actions associated with Christians.  James wrote “that faith without works is dead” and reminded us of the actions of Abraham and of Rahab that demonstrated their faith in God.

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  ²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.(James 2:14-26).

Declaring to have faith in God is good.  However, to take actions that are founded on that faith is powerful!  There is potential within our faith in God.  That potential is released and effected through our actions.  Having faith in God requires that the Christian holds loosely to their own life and pursues a life that represents Jesus.  In teaching that the Christian is to “lose his life for My sake”, Jesus is not suggesting that one become a martyr (though that possibility does exist).  It’s not in how the Christian dies that demonstrates their faith; it’s how they live that demonstrates their faith. The Christian’s actions are the evidence of their faith.

Followers of Christ are instructed to deny themselves, or give up their own identity, in exchange for their new identity in Christ.  With the new identity in Christ comes the actions that are associated with works of Christ.  Christ’s actions demonstrated that He was compassionate, a servant to others, loving, forgiving, committed to God and a God-given purpose, prayerful, gentle, patient, able to demonstrate self-control in the midst of temptation, and humble.

It sounds strange, and even foolish to the wise, when we hear that we must lose our life in order to find it.  However, when we understand the offer that Christ is presenting, this becomes and extraordinary proposition.  We have the opportunity to exchange a temporal life on earth that is dedicated to a frustrating and disappointing pursuit of self-gratification for a fulfilling, eternal life that is centered around the creator of heaven and earth.  When you carefully consider what you are giving up… there really isn’t much of any real value that you are surrendering.  Jesus poses the rhetorical questions “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Take a few minutes to ponder these questions.

In the next verse, Jesus presents a promise that is cause for celebration for those that choose to follow Him.  “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”  When speaking these words, Jesus was present in the form of man and refers to Himself as the “Son of Man”.  He points forward to a time when he will return.  When he returns Jesus will be present “in the glory of His Father”.  In this statement, Jesus presents Himself as the One that is able to bring together the form of man and the form of glory.  Through His sacrifice on the cross, this is the life that Jesus makes available to those that choose to follow Him.  He (Jesus) will reward each according to his (the follower) works.

Jesus demonstrates His love towards His followers through His own actions.  Jesus’ love is evident in His coming to earth in the form of man.  Jesus’ love is evident through His sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus’ love is evident in His promise to return to claim His followers as His bride.  Jesus’ love is evident in His promise to reward each according to his works.  Jesus’ life is an example of living a life dedicated to serving God.  This is the heart demonstrated in Jesus prayer in the garden… “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Choosing to come after Jesus, in word and in works, literally opens the doors of heaven and all of it’s glory.  There is no other way.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  (Galatians 3:26-29)

May your works be the evidence of a life dedicated to following Christ.

God Bless,

CountrySlicker