GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 6

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

THE HIGH COST OF AVOIDING THE CROSS

(Matthew 16:21-18)

The cross is a symbol of Christianity, though I fear it has lost its meaning.  In our culture the cross has become a medallion that may be worn on a necklace or bracelet.  Or it is an architectural wonder that adorns our church buildings.  The cross is an ornament, rather than an instrument of death.  We have romanticized it and erased its terror.  And it’s power!!

 Today the electrocution of criminals or the use of a gas chamber is considered by many to be “cruel and unusual punishment.”  But in Christ’s time, after severe beatings that ripped the flesh from their bones,  criminals were nailed to a stout trunk of a tree with a rough branch as a crosspiece.  Every move rubbed the shredded flesh against the splintered wood.   Rusty, square spikes and pieces of rope were used to hold victims on the beams while they writhed for days before they died.  Cicero said that the victims often became raving  maniacs and had their tongues cut out so that people would not have to listen to their vain and piercing babbling.

Yes, the cross is the symbol of Christianity, and our relationship to it determines our eternal destiny.  But let us never forget that the cross in and of itself was an instrument of torture, a summons to death.  There Christ hung for us, in severe torture, and He invites us to follow Him.

Peter needed to learn the meaning of the cross.  He would have to understand why Christ had to die such a horrible death.  Later he would be told that he would die in a similar way, following his Master.  The cross would be the chisel used to put the final touches on a life being molded by God.

Peter might well have felt a rush of confidence when Jesus commended him for his spiritual insight, (as we saw in previous chapters) “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Think of the encouragement he receive when he heard his Master say:

“Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” 

Then Jesus went on to tell him that he would play a major role in the establishment of the Church.

This was surely Peter’s happiest day.  It was also one of his saddest days.

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Mark 8:34

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 10:38

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Ephesians 2:16

and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

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