This is week 2 in our series “Seeking and Finding”. In Matthew 16 Jesus is completing a period of traveling above the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of Israel and now begins his journey to Jerusalem in the south for what He knows will be His time of passion at the crucifixion. Jesus knows His time with the disciples is short and he wants to be sure they understand what lies ahead and what being His disciple will require in the future.  Jesus told them he would go to Jerusalem and suffer, die and then rise again the third day. Peter, speaking on behalf of the group, registered a strong object to what Jesus said would happen about suffering and death. The disciples, as are many people today, were under the impression that being a follower of Christ would be a shield of protection from the unpleasant things of life. There is a belief that the only way to live life is to be free from suffering. We all know suffering is a part of life on earth, so the question is what do we do with our suffering?  Jesus states that we find life by bringing our suffering, our cross, to God and letting God use that suffering to advance the kingdom.  In the verses that follow Jesus goes on to state that not only would he suffer for the advancement of the kingdom, but that His true followers would also suffer. He said that His followers would “deny themselves and take up his cross.” 

How do people find life today? It’s not by trying to save it through physical means. We find life by losing ourselves as we follow Christ for the sake of the kingdom. Are you searching for life? Join me this Sunday for a message from Jesus on How to Find Your Self.