“Never, Lord!” …This shall never happen to you!”

Matthew 16:22

When Jesus reveals that he will be handed to the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he will be killed, and on the third day be raised to life. Peter rebukes Jesus saying, “Never, Lord!” …This shall never happen to you!” How often do we think like Peter? How often do we protest at the trials of life like Peter does? How often do we behave as though being a Christian entitles us to an easy, get more, get more, get more, life?

The message of the cross is shocking and simple: It is that Jesus died for our sins while we were yet sinners, to pay a debt we could not repay. It reminds us that through the forgiveness of our sins, we are made whole, saved, and preserved through the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. The message of the cross is humility, sacrifice, surrender and even death, and all this for the glory of God.

As you begin this week, have you truly embraced this message, or have you been swayed by a counterfeit message? To be a true Christ follower means that we must walk as he walked, talk like he talked, serve as he served even unto death. There is no other message more powerful than this. The cross is central to Christianity. Without the message of the cross, everything else is theological mush.

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Then take up your cross and follow him. Reject the counterfeits. Amen!