Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Sermon Text
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17)
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Three Sundays ago, we heard that when Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he decided he wanted to be out on the water with Jesus too. He did fine until he turned his focus from Jesus to the storm around them. As Jesus reached down to lift Peter up, he scolded Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.” Last Sunday we heard Peter respond to Jesus’ query, “who do you say that I am?” Peter got it right! He said, “You are the Christ.” Consequently, Jesus gave Peter an enthusiastic atta boy! “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah.”
Today’s gospel is a continuation of that conversation. Jesus immediately explains that he, the Christ, must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day. Peter’s reaction makes plain that he said the right words in his confession but he did not understand what the words meant.
In attempting to correct Jesus, Peter learned that while the Lord welcomes our prayers, he does not necessarily embrace our instruction. Just when it looked like Peter was finally growing into his role as spokesman for the group, he is sternly corrected. In the course of that correction, we learn more of what Jesus expects of his disciples, then and now.
There is no reason to think that Jesus is speaking only to the 12 disciples before Him. Just about everything that Jesus says to them is also intended for us in 2026. So his statement about the cross and denial are for us as much as those in the 1st century. How then are we to understand Jesus’ instruction? “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
From the Bible we know that two of the 12 disciples died: Judas Iscariot by his own hand; James, son of Zebedee, by the hands of others for being a Christian. In John 21:18-19, Jesus infers that Peter will be martyred by crucifixion. He was killed by Nero as was Paul. We know from extra-biblical sources that all the other disciples, except for John, were martyred for being Christian. John lived a very long life and died of old age.
From the first century unto AD 321 Christians endured periods of persecution in the Roman Empire. In different parts of the world, Christians have gone through periods of persecution, even imprisonment and death, simply because they say, Jesus is Lord and no other. In 2026, in other countries, Christians are most certainly in danger of imprisonment or death, simply because of their faith. Should you travel to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and some Asian countries, you want to be as Jesus says in Matthew 10, “wary and wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
But, what about here? Here you may go openly to Divine Service or not. You may visibly wear a cross and carry a Bible. Should you go out to lunch afterward, you can openly discuss in a crowded restaurant or any other public place what you heard, saw, sang, and generally experienced at church today.
In such an open and safe environment, what does it mean to do as Jesus says, “deny yourself and take up your cross?” How does a Christian distinguish himself from a thoughtful, all-around nice person who just so happens to be an agnostic or a functioning atheist? Especially when said agnostic or atheist is a dedicated community member who gives generously of his or her time to their families in addition to the wider community. In my experience, there are plenty of people that are indifferent to and occasionally hostile to Christian faith that gladly and generously give their money away for humanitarian causes, serve in the local food pantry, participate in other volunteer organizations and are a reliable and good help to their family and neighbors.
The distinction begins with a response to the Good News of Christ’s cross and resurrection that includes a willingness to make an articulate confession of faith. A willingness to say, “I believe” and put the Apostles and Nicene Creed into your own words. Confessing that God reveals himself to the world as one God in three persons with one of those persons becoming incarnate and dying on the cross for you. Saying that “on account of Christ Jesus, I am forgiven of my sins” is a distinctively Christian statement.
The distinction continues with how we choose to respond to life. The Apostle Paul is helpful here. In the Bible I use, today’s Epistle reading has the heading “Marks of the True Christian.” I know that you all were listening when the Epistle was read, but I am going to read it again here because it describes a Christian response to life.
“9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The words and phrases that summarize this description of a Christian life are love, hope, patience, prayer, hospitality, love of enemies, be a friend in joy and sorrow, live with humility, check your desire for retribution, desire that the love and forgiveness of Christ govern your heart and mind.
None of this easy all the time or at any time. Some of what God calls us into is not natural to our corrupt sinful hearts. When we have statements like what we have from Jesus today and this description of the Marks of the Christian Life, we can start to feel like Peter surely felt when he sank in the water and in trying to correct Jesus about what the Christ is supposed to do. We feel like failures. If nothing else, we feel like we just don’t listen or understand very well of what God expects of us. Sometimes it just feels impossible.
Here, it is important to remember what Jesus did to Peter. He loved Peter. When Peter sank, Jesus brought him to the boat. When Peter misunderstood what the Christ must do for the salvation of the world, Jesus did not allow him to continue in ignorance. Jesus took the time and energy to instruct him. The Lord is the same with you. God loves you. Jesus dies on the cross for you. He forgives your failures, known and unknown. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, you will learn and grow. Your faith will be strengthened. Wisdom will come. Discipleship is about learning. You are never finished with being a disciple of Christ. We go forward with the assurance that the Word abides with you forever. The cross is ever before you as is the hope of resurrection life.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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