August 24, 2008

“Deny yourself. Take up your cross.”
That is what I always heard Jesus said.
And I think we bought it too.
Our culture is perfectly happy with that.
No one wants to do things that care for themselves.
They want to do things that impress others.
This week I took good care of myself.
It was just little things.
Reading a book. Connecting with friends. Going for walks.
Everyone I told said
“Don’t you feel guilty?”
or
“Don’t let that make you feel guilty!”
I never said I felt guilty.
But, I have to admit, that usually I would completely say I felt guilty.
But something changed in me this week.
I realized that when I do these little things I love –
Surprise!
I’m happy.
And I have more to give to others when the time comes.
I don’t feel guilty and I don’t feel self-absorbed, despite what I’ve heard.
I feel calm. Relaxed. Grateful. Open to serve.
So, I read it again.
Turns out, Jesus didn’t say “Deny yourself. Take up your cross.”
Look again. Luke 9.
Jesus said, “23 Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?”
Mark and Matthew add, “For what shall one give in return for life?”
I read lots of commentaries and sermons and CRAZY websites that said they could explain what Jesus meant.
But I don’t think they did.
I think Jesus was trying to say crosses are choices, choices we make to serve.
Nothing that was forced on us.
Not what we normally call “a cross to bear.”
In this passage, the disciples don’t yet know that Jesus will die on a cross.
He’s tried to tell them what is to come, but they don’t believe him.
They don’t understand him.
So, their image of a cross to bear is different at this point that ours.
For the disciples, the end of a cross story is Death.
But for Jesus, the end of the cross story is Life.
Deny yourself isn’t the same as deny yourself something.
Almost every time the word is used in Scripture, it is referring to denying yourself on the Sabbath or another Holy Day.
I think Jesus was saying something like, “If you really want to follow me, if you really want to be my disciples, deny for awhile all you think you are supposed to be doing for my sake. Take care of yourself. Worship and pray and listen. Not so your life will feel horrid and beaten down, but so your life will be most full. Through me. No sense in going crazy working at something, and lose your self in the process. You only have this one life. What are you willing to give up?”
What really matters?
John 10:10b has Jesus say, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Abundantly. Abundantly.
Life abundant, not life denied.
And guess what?
Love your neighbor as yourself.
As you love yourself.
You need to love yourself.
If you don’t love yourself first, you cannot love your neighbors.
It isn’t one of the Big Ten Commandments. Go look. Exodus 20.
No, it is obscure, in a long list of commandments. Lev. 19:18.
Know why we think this is so familiar and important?
Not because of the Big Ten.
But because Jesus said it over and over again.
Jesus said the most important two things we can do in our lives is:
Number 1 – to love God.
Number 2 – to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Mark 12:28-34.
Not the Big Ten. The Big Two.
Love is the greatest gift and the greatest commandment.
Love for God.
Love for ourselves.
Love for others.
We cannot love others without loving ourselves.
We need to deny ourselves the buzz of the running around pursuing.
We need not deny ourselves moments of love.
Little things of pleasure were not meant to be denied, but gifts of a life most fully enjoyed when we follow God.
Big things too.
Choose your cross by choosing to serve.
Deny yourself all you think you are supposed to be doing, and instead do all your heart is longing to do deep down.
You’ll have to fill your own well.
Paul Overstreet sings, “Pick up your shovel and dig another well.”
Take care of yourself.
No one else can.
Find what gives you life.
Do you remember?
Going for a run. Drawing a picture. Eating dark chocolate. Spending time with someone you love. Reading. Building something.
Don’t deny yourself that.
Live life abundantly.
Jesus said.
What does it profit you if you gain the whole world…
but lose or forfeit yourself?
For what shall one give in return for life?
Really. What are we exchanging for life?
Live. Live this life you have.
Spread love.
Start with yourself.
Be tender with yourself.
Don’t let your epitaph be, “I finally finished my to-do list.”
Life is so so so much more than what we mark off.
Fill your well.
Then, and only then, can you take that living water and love and share it.
It will change the world.

Amen.

In Wisdom,
Brandi Calhoun Diamond

Learn more about the way Jesus taught in our upcoming course:

DIAD (Done in a Day) – The Terrible Parable
It is simply human nature to find interest in a story, and likewise, it is human nature to be able to learn about ourselves “sideways” through a story. Both terrible and enlightening, the Parable is a key example of how Story affects our lives and our faith. Jesus knew this, and used parables as his prime form of teaching. Many other biblical prophets did the same, and indeed, all of our Holy Writ invites us to listen to story, and to see ourselves in the shoes of its larger parable. In this class, we’ll discuss the concept of Story Theology, and we’ll explore some of the best parabolic writings the Bible has to offer. We’ll also visit some contemporary story forms that continue to share the power of theological story, from books to movies to music. Don’t miss this opportunity to get caught up in the amazing faith story, and see why the Parable has such Terrible power.
1 Tuesday October 7 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location TBD $36 Register by: September 23

To register or for our complete course listing, please visit our Orchard at http://www.wisdomem.com/catalog.