Heavy Weight, Kingdom Power

Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
 
JESUS continued to form his disciples into building blocks (see previous lesson) to become faithful, active Kingdom workers. He spoke of complete commitment in their daily lives to prepare them for the end of time. Kingdom builders must think as Jesus: Paul, for example, quoted Isaiah: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” and then he taught how his ministry was grounded in Jesus’ truth: But we have the mind of Christ. (from 1 Corinthians 2:16) Jesus requires his followers to submit their lives completely to the Kingdom of God. Jesus was erasing their preconceived picture of privilege in the Messiah’s Kingdom on earth. This new picture is a call to even lose one’s life for the gospel.
   This was not just figurative language. James, who requested a seat alongside Jesus in the new kingdom, was executed by Herod Agrippa. Peter was crucified upside down. Thomas was brutally martyred in India. Nearly all disciples who stood before Jesus that day “lost their lives” to serve Jesus and be saved into the eternal Kingdom. Only the apostle John lived a long life as God rescued him when he was dipped in boiling oil! Discipleship requires picking up a heavy weight.
   What then happens for the cross-bearing, weight-lifting disciple of Jesus Christ? Jesus promises great reward, doesn’t he? This isn’t being saved by works. But it is a promise of heavenly reward as you faithfully carry the weight God requires of you. Jesus teaches our minds must be set on the eternal wonder he has prepared for us, so we will endure, even welcome the temporary trials.
   Does your church need more members? Then advertise to the community, “Weight Lifters Wanted. You Can Deny Yourself, Lose Your Life, Pick Up Your Cross, Live Forever.” Tell the world what it needs to know. Jesus is Lord, and he requires total commitment to his Kingdom. There is no greater wealth than possessing the Kingdom of God in our heart. There is no greater work than to work steadfastly for the Lord. We must live with eternity in view for surely one day the Son of Man will come, and he will reward each person according to what he has done.