Everyone carries weights in this life. Sometimes they are literal, like moving the heavy furniture out of the apartment. Or in some cases, they can be figurative, like being weighed down by guilt or sadness. Some weights can and should be dropped off. While some are necessary to bear. Today, Jesus talks about a weight that he will soon carry. And this weight he will carry alone, no one to aid him, no friendly neighbor to help, just him. Some would even try to have him drop off the weight and focus on some other priority. But his priority should be our priority, not the other way around. Matthew reminds us that the ultimate burden in this life, which needs to be carried, is the Cross: 1) Christ’s cross and 2) our cross.

It’s safe to say that the disciples are living The Good Life at the moment. They are in the heart of Jesus’ ministry. They are watching miracles being performed before their very eyes. The crowds are swarming in numbers just to sit at the feet of their great teacher. This was Jesus! And, in the verses leading up to our section of scripture, Jesus wanted to hear what these people were saying about him. Many thought that Jesus was just another great prophet; others searched the scriptures, thinking he was the reincarnated Elijah. But the disciples knew better than the crowds. Because after Jesus asked them to clarify who they thought he was, Peter responds, saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” What a prize-winning answer! They knew what they had seen. They weren’t swayed by people’s opinions. They confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. And they were his followers! What could be better than this moment in life?!

All this buildup and excitement led to the verses for today. “²¹From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law. And that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Woah! Let that sink in… Jesus -a man- must go, must suffer, and must die.  Jesus’ life purpose was a cross to carry, a death to endure, and a grave to conquer. How quickly we gloss over this fact to our 21st-century Christian eyes and ears? Oh yeah, Jesus died and rose again. But imagine these words ringing through the disciples’ ears.  They were baffled.

Peter speaks, once again, about what’s going on in everyone’s head. “²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” He said. “This will never happen to you.” What a response from Peter. But put yourself in their shoes for a moment. ‘Jesus, we have seen the blind have sight, you have cured the incurable, but now you are telling us that you must suffer pain?’ ‘Jesus, you have provided in godlike ways, feeding the numerous crowds, and having power over the weather, but you say that those feet which walked on water will now walk to Jerusalem to be killed?’ ‘Jesus, you have raised the dead to life! And now you’re going to Jerusalem to die? This is certainly not what the disciples were expecting – a cross and a date with death didn’t fit into their template.

Perhaps they thought that Christ, the Messiah, was supposed to be their bread king or that he would overthrow the oppressive Romans? Perhaps Peter’s rebuke was out of arrogance or genuine concern for the life of his friend? Matthew doesn’t say, but what he does record is Jesus’s response.

“²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Jesus’ response must have been a punch to the gut for Peter. He went from being praised by Jesus to being called Satan right to his face. Jesus might sound harsh. But he hit the nail right on the head. Peter was so focused on his vision of what Jesus was supposed to do that he didn’t have room to consider what JESUS said Jesus was supposed to do. He didn’t realize the weight of the situation, and in his denial of Jesus’ plan, he actually became a temptation for Christ to avoid his cross. And for Jesus to avoid the weight of the cross is for Jesus to avoid the weight of our sin!

Do we sometimes find ourselves like Peter? It may not be telling Jesus that he is wrong. But are there times when Christ’s cross seems inconvenient to us? Are there times when we feel that the weight of our problems would be lessened if we were to drop the cross? Am I more concerned about the persecution that happens in my life, over standing firm along with Christ in the path he has laid out? Or, just maybe, is there a part of us that thinks Jesus’ cross is great – but we need to help him carry his cross by doing something to help out our salvation?

Rejoice, friends, that Jesus didn’t take Peter’s advice. His sole focus was not his own concerns, but his Father’s. And that meant a cross must be carried. And Christ was the one sent to carry it.  And that is why Christ was so harsh with his rebuke. He would not cut any corners. He would not deviate from his mission. It was necessary for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and be the Messiah that the world needed. When he gazed at the disciples, he did so in love, knowing the whips and lashes that were about to come. And when the time came, he carried the cross with you, his beloved bride, on his mind. And while being pressed down by the weight of the world’s sin, “It is finished” resounds from our Savior’s mouth, as we know that our sins are forgiven and we have peace with God. The weight of our sin has been removed!

Christ’s cross has set us free, making us new. So, what do we do with this new freedom? Jesus gives us that answer. “²⁴ Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Just like Jesus’ road wasn’t an easy one to walk, he asks us also to pick up the ultimate burden and follow after him.

Deny thyself. What does that mean? Does it mean that I should give up my possessions and desires? Or do I forsake the world and live in constant prayer and devotion? No, but it does mean that my sinful flesh needs daily crucifying. Those unholy thoughts. The words spoken not in love. The deeds I do to please myself at the expense of others. All of it needs to be crucified by daily sorrow and repentance.

But even if we fail in carrying the weight of the cross, in denying the desires of our flesh, or get caught up living life in the concerns of the world. Know that Christ has already carried the biggest burden. He exchanged his life so that you may enjoy life after death.

So then do what is right. Carry the cross, even if it may be a burden. With your eyes focused on Jesus, see that You are also victors of the Cross. In Christ You died with him, but in him also are raised in victory. Christ has made you triumphant over sin. Rejoice in the life to come and gladly pick up your cross and follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Cling to the life that you have in the Spirit, a life that gives up all unholy desires or worldly outlooks. For we do not live for the world and what it has to offer; there is nothing in this world that exceeds the Father’s love which he has for you.

Life may have its weight and no shortage of burdens to bear. But the Christian life has the ultimate burden: the Cross. Rejoice! You were worth so much that Jesus was willing to carry the cross for you. Rejoice! Christ is worth so much to you that you are willing to carry out your life’s crosses for him. Rejoice! In the future glory that you can await. Once you stand with the Father for all eternity.