Denying Oneself
Rev Dr. Jintae Kim
Charleston Truth Alliance Church
Mar 23, 2025
Introduction
We continue to meditate on the events and words of Jesus in the Gospels. Today, the third Sunday of Lent, we reflect on Jesus’ words about discipleship. The key verse is Matt 16:24. Let me copy it:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
So, discipleship involves three steps: (1) Deny oneself; (2) Take up own cross; and (3) Follow Jesus. Today, we will focus on the first step, "denying oneself."
Immediate Literary Context
Today's reading is also related to Peter. Peter was notorious for going back and forth between the two extremes. Just a moment ago, Jesus had given Peter this praise and privilege.
"But he said to him, 'But who do you say that I am?' 16 Simon Peter answered and said to him, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' 17Jesus 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. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you set before me on earth will be bound in heaven. If you release him, it will be released from heaven.”
Oh, the Lord who did that called Peter Satan, in front of the other disciples. But how embarrassing is that as the leader of the disciples?
Put yourselves in Peter's shoes! How embarrassed, ashamed, wronged, and resentful… If it were us, wouldn’t we have said, “Oh no, I am not gonna follow Jesus anymore. I want to go home.”?
Let me copy v.23 again.
“But Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but those of men.’” (Matthew 16:23)
Come on, what did Peter do so wrong that Jesus dared to call him Satan?
“You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (v. 23)
My question:
“No way! Even so, is that what you would say to a disciple, and in front of all the disciples? Is that right, Lord?”
The Lord’s answer (my thoughts):
“I can forgive everything else, but that is the greatest mistake that cannot be forgiven.”
So, what was it that he was thinking about the things of men?
Peter thought that Jesus would become the king who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression, and he believed that if he followed Jesus, he would also be promoted because of him. When Jesus called him the rock, Peter must have felt very proud. He was deluded into thinking that he was the one who would reign over all people.
That was Peter’s sense of discipleship.
That was thinking about the things of men.
If we do that, we will also be cursed by the Lord as “Satan.”
The disciples’ question (to themselves): “Then, what?”
The Lord's answer (my thoughts): "Yes, I will."
Jesus' definition of a true disciple:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Denying oneself
So, what does it mean to deny oneself?
That is, to put the priority of your life on the things of God, not on the things of men.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
The example of the Lord Jesus:
Jesus, facing the agony of the cross, said to his disciples, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death," and prayed this way: "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
The second time he prayed this way: “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done” (v. 42).
The third time, he prayed the same thing. This is thinking about God’s work, not man’s.
Application
The disciples must have thought, “Oh, Peter, you’ve been so arrogant, you’ve fallen to the level of Satan. If you just sit still, you’ll get somewhere. You’ve been acting all this time, and now you look good.”
But were the words of the Lord really just for Peter?
Or was Peter’s incident really someone else’s? Or, is it something that applies to all of us?
Well, the answer is obvious.
Let’s ask ourselves this.
What do I pursue when I come to church?
Is it to satisfy man’s work, my worldly needs, like Peter?
Or am I truly gaining life in Jesus and sharing this life?
Method?
How am I trying to build the kingdom of God? Is it through sacrifice?
Or is it through my reign?
Are you a disciple?
Then, let us all shout together.
“The church will stand only when I sacrifice my own needs.”
“The church will flourish only when I kill my temper.”
“The church will be peaceful only when I break my stubbornness.”
“The church will win only when I yield first.”
Prayer
Father God, we confess that we are disciples but cannot deny ourselves on our own. Lord, we confess that the rebuke you gave to Peter was directed at us. We let the Holy Spirit within us take charge of our lives. Grant us the courage to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We resolve to firmly establish this church through our sacrifice. Lord, please help us.