Pastor Tom Johnson, February 28, 2021
Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer greatly, die, and rise again. Peter thinks this is an outrageous plan. He loves Jesus. He says, “God forbid it! This will never happen to you.” Jesus tells Peter to get out of his way. And he calls Peter “Satan”—which means “the adversary.” Peter has set himself against God’s will and plan for humanity. He is an obstacle—an adversarial impediment to Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem and his ultimate death and resurrection.
Peter is thinking about self-preservation. It’s a completely natural human response. We burn our hand on the strove and we quickly pull it away and nurse it. We lock our doors at night. We turn and walk the other direction if we see danger. Peter heard Jesus talk about great suffering and death. I’m not too sure if he heard Jesus speak about resurrection. Peter cares about the welfare of Jesus. But it is through Peter’s rebuking of Jesus that Jesus hears the Adversary’s voice trying to keep him from giving his life for the world. Peter wants Jesus to tighten his grip on the things of the world and on his own self-preservation. And Jesus responds with the proverb, “What will it profit [you] if [you] gain the whole world but forfeit [your] soul? Or what will [you] give in return for [your] soul?” How valuable is human life? What is your soul worth? What is your life worth? Jesus is remarkably current in understanding the importance of self-worth. How much do you value your own existence? At what price would you sell yourself on the auction block of the world?
Sin is like the the antigospel—the antithesis of the good news of Jesus Christ. Sin is pursuing our unhealthy appetites at all cost. Our energy, our attention, and our time are consumed by whatever it is that we want and desire. And if we are really selfish, we forget or stop caring about how it impacts others. Whether it is pride, greed, or for some other reason, we can be overcome by our own desires. We too can lose our lives when we try to gain the whole world—like a fly that has drowned in a bowl of soup. One individual’s greed can destroy a whole corporation. One person’s addiction can destroy families and careers. Personal vengeance can leave a trail of casualties a mile long. The truth is that when we fixate on ourselves and our own wants and needs, we are not helping ourselves at all. God wants us to trust him as not only our Creator but also our Sustainer.
If Jesus embraced Peter’s rebuke—if Jesus tried to avoid suffering and death—Jesus never would have triumphed over death and the grave. He never would have been able to bring us forgiveness and eternal life. He never would have risen victoriously from the grave. Peter’s plan would have robbed the world of a Savior. Imagine if Jesus was more concerned about his own self-preservation than humanity’s salvation—if he was more driven by wordly ambition than by eternal redemption. He would not be the Christ but the Antichrist. Jesus’ mission was so entrenched in his mind and spirit that he would not even allow Peter or the Adversary to put an obstacle before him for a second. Jesus came into the world to bring forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Jesus wants it not only to be his own personal mission but our mission as well. “What will it profit [you] if [you] gain the whole world but forfeit [your] soul? Or what will [you] give in return for [your] soul?” This is a radical understanding of what it means to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength—and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus calls us to drastically rearrange our priorities. It's all too natural to put ourselves first and let our relationship with others and God fall by the wayside. But Jesus is calling us to put him first—to take up our cross and follow him—to make him the head and captain of our souls and to love others the way he has loved us. When we do give up trying to gain the world and its treasures for ourselves—when we lose ourselves in Jesus and others—the irony is that we haven’t forfeited our souls or lost anything. We realize that have gained and profited priceless and eternal treasure. “What profit is it to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul?” Ironically, Jesus turns this question on its head: He forfeits his life to gain the world. “What will you give in return for your soul?” Jesus turns this question on its head also: he gives his life on the cross and rises from the dead not for himself but for us.
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart;
I pray Thee, ne'er from me depart,
With tender mercy cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share,
Yea, heav'n itself were void and bare
If Thou, Lord, wert not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break,
My trust in Thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought;
Thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust Thy “Word.
(“Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart,” LSB 708, v. 1)
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