So, who is this Jesus we read about in Matthew 26? Jesus, the very Son of God, who "set aside" His deity to become "flesh" - a human being, not as an adult, but born as a baby, and not in a God type manner with comfort, but in a stable. Jesus, who was raised as a carpenter's son, in an ordinary home, not a palace. Jesus, who gathered His 12 desiciples, and traveled around on foot, conviencing all who would listen, that He was the true Son of the living God. Shouldn't that have been enough for him to give up?
If Jesus would have stopped here, then we wouldn't have a chance at eternal life with God. Instead, we would be paying the consequences for our own sins.
But we find in chapter 26 that Jesus must die to complete His mission. Judas, His "personal church treasurer", betrays Him. Now I don't mean to imply that church treasurers are evil, only that everyone who is working in a church is not necessarially a true Christ follower, but that's another blog. Anyway, do we understand or get just how much we mean to God that He would go so far as to die for us. So, is Jesus really asking too much of us when He says in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, he (or she), must deny themself and take up their cross and follow me"?
So the question is, have you DENIED yourself for the growth of His Kingdom? Are souls being reached for His Kingdom? Notice, I didn't say "OUR CHURCH", but "HIS KINGDOM". It really is His, you know. He truly is the GREAT and only GOD!
Mike
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