I read an interesting article about American companies trying to sell their products overseas – and running right into something called the language barrier. In other words, American English, with its expressions and colloquialisms, don't always translate very well.
Years ago in Taiwan, Pepsi sought to translate their slogan, "Come alive with the Pepsi generation." Translated into their language, however, the slogan read: "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead." That's quite a promise for Pepsi to live up to.
In China, Kentucky Fried Chicken took their slogan "Finger licking good" and translated it into Chinese. At least, they tried to. But instead of "Finger licking good" it translated out to "Eat your fingers off."
It didn't go over so well, because their message was lost in translation. The words just weren't connecting in the way the company intended.
In the 16th chapter of Matthew, we see Jesus speaking to His disciples about some heavy events that were just around the corner. It was important for these men to hear and understand their Lord's words. But their minds were in other places. They weren't really paying attention to what He was saying. It was as though Jesus' words were lost in translation.
The disciples believed Jesus was Messiah, and their minds quickly leaped to grand and glorious conclusions. They thought He would establish His kingdom then and there, overthrowing Rome and the corrupt Jewish leadership. They were eagerly waiting for the rule and reign of Christ on earth, believing they would share that reign with Him. That's why they kept arguing about who was the greatest, and who would get to sit at Jesus' right hand.
They were listening to their own expectations and listening to each other, but they had only been listening with half an ear to Jesus. What they hadn't heard (and really didn't want to hear) was that He had not come to establish a physical kingdom on earth quite yet. Before the crown there would first be a cross. Before He sat on a throne He would first suffer and die for the sins of the whole world.
In Matthew 16, He seeks to prepare them for what lies ahead. In the process, He poses a question and a challenge to them. It's a question and challenge He still poses today to you and me. It is a question every one of us must answer.
Who is Jesus Christ to you? Who do you say that He is?
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:13-18, NKJV)
"Who do you say that I am?"
It is a question every man and woman must answer. There will come a day, of course, when every person who has ever lived on earth will declare, "Jesus Christ is Lord." This will include every Christian and every non-Christian. It will also include every atheist, agnostic, Jew, Hindu, Muslim and every practitioner of every religion on earth – past, present and future. It will include every Republican, Democrat, independent and flaming progressive. Vladimir Putin will say those words. So will Benjamin Netanyahu, Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden. Taylor Swift will declare it, as will Tom Cruise, Bradley Cooper and Matthew McConaughey. Bill Maher will cry out "Jesus is Lord!" And so will Howard Stern.
Check out Greg Laurie's books and movies in the WND Superstore
The apostle Paul put it like this: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11, NIV).
Where did Jesus ask this important question of His disciples? It was in Caesarea Philippi. That may not mean much to us, but people of that day would recognize it as a place named for the Greek god Pan. It was at this very place, a location known for false worship, a place of paganism and unbelief, where Jesus asked this question about His identity.
It's possible that even as they were having this discussion, they could look around and see people bowing down before false images and offering sacrifices to their nonexistent gods. In this place of paganism and confusion, He looks His men in the eyes and says, "OK, guys, who do you say I am?"
It's one thing to say that Jesus Christ is Lord in church or a Bible study, among people of like minds. But it is another thing to say it outside of church – out in the busy marketplace. It's another thing to say "Jesus in Lord" in your workplace, on campus, or in our increasingly hostile, anti-Christian culture. Sometimes we may be willing to declare those words among believers, but not in front of nonbelievers. Yet Jesus says in Luke 9:26, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."
Are you willing to declare your allegiance to Him in front of your friends, family, coworkers and classmates? Are you willing to say, "Jesus is Lord of my life"?
And what do those words really mean?
In a nutshell, it means that we identify with Him publicly, read and obey His Word, and follow wherever He leads – even when the path becomes narrow and steep and the way is hedged in with thorns.
In that same conversation, Jesus went on to say, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25, NKJV).
"If anyone desires to come after Me …" You could take out the "anyone" and put your own name in the blank, making it personal.
— "If Greg will come after Me …"
— "If Megan will come after Me …"
— "If Juan will come after Me …"
— "If Abigail will come after Me and deny herself …"
What does it even mean to deny yourself? Here's a simple translation: "Say no to."
Say no to yourself. We don't like that, do we? But even more, say no to yourself and say yes to God. That's what it means to deny yourself. Selfish people will find this outrageous. Even offensive. And narcissists need not apply.
To take up your cross means that you die to yourself, and identify yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ.
This flies in the face of conventional wisdom and polite conversation today. You rarely hear messages like this in church. When we go to church we want to hear a series about how to lose weight, how to be more successful in business, or how to have a happier family. And there's nothing wrong with any of those things.
But what about a message on taking up the cross? What about a message on dying to yourself? That's not very popular, is it?
Right after my conversion I remember being impressed by certain things that don't impress me as much today. I was very impressed with gifted people. A gifted preacher. A gifted evangelist. A gifted singer. And though I still appreciate such people today, I am more impressed by other things.
I am impressed by people who live faithful lives, day in and day out, as followers of Jesus Christ.
I am impressed by a husband who keeps his vows to his wife all the way to the end.
I am impressed by a wife who stands by her husband through thick and thin.
I am impressed by a Christian who stays with it through sunny days and stormy nights.
I am impressed by a believer who weathers the storms and grows stronger in the faith.
That's what following Jesus is all about. As Eugene Peterson put it, it is "a long obedience in the same direction." It's about getting up every morning and breathing a word of praise to Jesus Christ, no matter what's on your plate and no matter what your circumstances might be.
If He is truly Lord of your life, live out that truth every hour of every day.
And don't hold back from telling others.
The post The most blessed identity to claim: Follower of Jesus appeared first on WND.
