Browsing through the gospels, we find so many teachings by Jesus that can be considered as hard or difficult for his audience to digest since they fail to decipher the true meaning to such teachings. At the heart of these teachings is the truth, which many struggle to accept. One of such difficult or hard teachings is what we see in the gospel of today.
“… If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it….”
The message looks so strange to Jesus’s audience, as one who has come to save them is encouraging them to renounce themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him. This actually will leave many in the state of hopelessness.
In this way, Jesus took the risk of losing His followers by teaching them the truth about His mission on earth and the cost of discipleship.
Unlike Jesus, many of us have traded the truth for our personal interests, allowing ourselves to be blinded by what we could gain if we speak not the truth, as a result, conspiracies to cover the truth and replace it with lies continue to thrive amongst us.
Jesus Christ represents the truth, and will always stand for it, no matter the situation, and He expects us to do the same.
“…For if anyone in this adulterous and sinful generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
Even though we live in a world polluted with lies and untruthfulness where the truth has become a rare gem to come by. It is in the midst of this situation that Christ calls us to make a difference by bearing witness to His name and not being ashamed. And to those who keep His words without shame, He promises life in His kingdom “for only the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32)
We pray that God may bestow upon us to grace of perseverance in truth to really stand for what we believe in. Amen!
Peace be with you 🙏🏾🙌🏾
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