TOPIC: THE CROSS AND THE CROWN IN OUR LIVES
1. STORY
John was the only survivor of a shipwreck on a small, uninhabited
island. He prayed to God to rescue him,
but no help came. He was able to build a
small hut for protection. One day, as he
was out looking for food, he saw smoke rolling up to the sky. He was stunned with grief to find his hut
burned down. Early the next day, he
heard the sound of a ship approaching the island. It has come to rescue him. John asked them how
they knew there was someone on the island. They replied that they had seen the
smoke signal. His cross had turned into
a crown.
2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 16:21-27
A. CHRIST MUST SUFFER
Jesus tells his disciples two things.
i. He must suffer at the hands of the leaders and that he will be put to
death.
ii. He will be raised up on the third day. Jesus must carry his cross and also will wear his crown.
B. PETER REJECTS JESUS’ TEACHING
The gospel tells us two things about Peter.
i. He is shocked to hear that Jesus will suffer. “God forbid that such things are to happen to
you.”
ii. Jesus scolds Peter because he is “not judging by God’s standards but
by men’s.” Peter
rejects the idea that such a good man as Jesus must suffer.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. SUFFERING IN LIFE
There are two things we must remember.
i. Suffering is a part of everyone’s life. Everyone must carry his cross. Some carry heavy ones while others carry lighter ones. Christ has told us that those who wish to follow him must “take up his cross.”
ii. Jesus will bless us if we are willing, freely, and obediently accept
our cross. He will reward us with a
crown, eternal life. He has said
“whoever loses his life (suffers) for my sake will find it (receive eternal
life).” Like Jesus, we must carry our
cross and will wear our crown.
B. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND
Unlike Peter, we must do two things.
i. We must accept the fact there is and will always be suffering in
life. Some think it is a punishment from God for their sins. Good people are surprised that they suffer as
they live by God’s law of love. Some
think that God is cruel and merciless. All
are wrong.
ii. We must not be like Peter who judged by men’s standards. What we must understand is that God loves us,
cares for us, and gives us the strength to carry our crosses. He is our loving father who wishes us to be
happy. We ask Jesus to strengthen our
faith and illuminate our minds to see clearly that after carrying our cross in
this life we will wear the crown of eternal happiness. No cross, no crown. No pain, no gain.
4. CONCLUSION
John realized that the burning of his hut was the way he was saved.
Jesus, after suffering on the cross, would be raised from the dead and earn
salvation for all. Peter failed to
understand this. We also must follow
Jesus in that we must suffer, but, finally, we will enjoy eternal life. We must carry out our cross, but we will also
wear the crown of eternal life.
