Follow me
by Neil Bergmann
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Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16:24).
Read Matthew 16:21–28
At the start of today’s reading, Jesus explains to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, where he will be persecuted and crucified. Peter, quite sensibly, says that this sounds like a bad idea and gets a tongue-lashing from Jesus in return.
Jesus knows where he must go and what will happen to him. He says to his disciples that if they wish to continue to be his followers, they need to (as the word followers suggests) follow him. So, Jesus’ followers are not just followers of his teachings but also companions on his physical journey.
Lent is that particular season of the year when we are invited to travel with Jesus to Jerusalem, to his arrest and trial, to walk alongside him as he carries the cross towards Calvary, and to watch as he dies on that cross. But Jesus doesn’t just ask us to go with him. We are asked to take up our cross and follow him. What do you think this means? Perhaps the cross signifies the persecution of Jesus’ disciples mentioned earlier in Matthew 10:16–23?
I find it useful to think of my cross as representative of my sins, failings and shortcomings. Lent gives me the opportunity to examine myself and humbly acknowledge my imperfections. I follow Jesus with this ‘cross’ to Good Friday, and then Jesus takes all my sin onto his cross with him. Making the Lenten journey to Calvary and seeing Jesus sacrificed for my sin on Good Friday makes it all very real. The cross that seemed to get heavier and heavier on the journey has disappeared. However, as Jesus tells his disciples in today’s reading, the journey to Jerusalem doesn’t end with his death but rather his resurrection. The risen Saviour of Easter Sunday beckons to us as a celebration of the new life in the kingdom of God.
Jesus, thank you for inviting me on this Lenten journey to your Good Friday death and Easter Sunday resurrection. Please help me to use this season to learn again what it means to follow you. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland. He represents the Lutheran Church on the Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN), a commission of Queensland Churches Together.
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