March 1, 2010
ORDER OF OPERATION
Matthew 16:21-28
Russ Hulme
Central Truth
Jesus gives us three things to do to follow Him. It is important, however, that we pay just as much attention to how He delivered that message.
Key Verse | Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! 1 16:22 Or [May God be] merciful to you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance 2 16:23 Greek stumbling block to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life 3 16:25 The same Greek word can mean either soul or life, depending on the context; twice in this verse and twice in verse 26 will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Dive Deeper | Matthew 16:21-28
Growing up, I was not a great math student. I have to go back to the basics every time I face a task requiring mathematics. One of these basics is "order of operation." Anyone remember the phrase "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally?" It helps us remember the correct order of performing mathematical operations and stands for Parentheses, Exponentiation, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.
Okay, I know that might be more information than you need this morning, but the order of operation is critical to achieve the correct result in math. For example, 3*(2+1) equals 9, properly applying the order of operation. If I do not apply the rule, however, I get the incorrect result of 7.
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus was not just giving us three tasks that are necessary to perform to be like Him. I believe He was also giving us an order of operation so that we could achieve the accurate result of becoming the people He wants us to be.
Consider the passage mathematically:
Come After Jesus = Deny Yourself * (Take Up Your Cross + Follow Him)
I group together "Take Up Your Cross" and "Follow Him," because it is possible for people inadvertently to reflect some form of Jesus in their lives. I see Christlike actions performed all the time by people who do not know Jesus and who claim to have found their own, better way. (Romans 1:21-22)
The key to getting the correct result is denying self. Most people see Jesus as an addition to our lives--that is, He takes what we are and adds to it. But Jesus is actually a multiplier. He multiplies our lives by His factor, which is infinity. Any number, except zero, multiplied by infinity is still infinity!
Jesus can take whatever we give and make us infinitely more like Him through the cross, but it only comes by denying ourselves and following Him. (Ephesians 3:20) Denying self is not easy, but it results in becoming more like Christ each time we do.
Discussion Questions
1. What is one way you can better deny yourself to become more like Jesus right now?
2. What are some areas of your life in which you can see that Jesus has multiplied you to make you more like Him lately?
3. In which of the three tasks in the formula do you need the most improvement today (denying yourself, taking up your cross, or following after Jesus)?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What does it mean to “deny yourself”?
2. Why would Jesus ask that of His disciples?
3. Do you believe that He is asking that of you? How are you responding?