15^th Sunday after Pentecost – WLS Sunday at Epiphany on August 24, 2008

Matthew 16:21-26 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"  23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."  24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Free to deny

In teaching the 2^nd Commandment in confirmation class, in order to teach the students what not to say, I’ve sometimes had to say those awful four-letter words. They need to know why certain words are reprehensible and why they should have their mouths washed out with soap for using those words. In my sermon today, I’m going to have to use a four-letter word over and over again. You may need to cover delicate ears. The word is “deny.”

In the eyes and ears of this generation's advertisers, deny is a word to be avoided at all costs. They say, “You deserve a break today so head to McDonald’s.” No denial there. “You can have it all with beer that tastes great and is less filling, so grab a Miller Lite and still have room for those nachos.” No denial there, either. And of course Nike told us, “Just do it.” Whatever “it” is, there is no denying us.

In the eyes and ears of this generation's politicians, deny is a word that should never be inserted into any public speech. That word can get you unelected. That's why they promise a chicken in every pot and two American-made, fuel-efficient, full-sized vehicles in every garage. They promise more help for the elderly and increase welfare for the destitute. They promise to provide for the unions, while increasing the profit of the employer. They will be strong against terrorism, while they reduce spending on the military. They will provide food for the world while using our food for fuel. They will improve the roads and schools and double the police forces, but none of this will cost you a penny more in taxes. No, sir. No one will have to deny himself again in this utopia that will be brought about as soon as they are elected. Such is the promise. And that is why, no self-respecting public servant will ever use the word deny – at least during an election year.

In the eyes and ears of some of this generation's churches, the word deny has also become a four-letter word and is excommunicated from their vocabularies. Their thinking is, "God is good and He owns everything. Therefore, if you, a believer, have the right words, if you say the right prayer, if you do the right works, and if you want something badly enough, you can just claim it. After all, how can a good God say 'no' to such a fine follower such as yourself?” That kind of thinking seems solid. The only difficulty is their teaching is not the Bible's teaching. If it were, Adam and Eve could have turned around and reclaimed the forbidden Garden of Eden. If it were true, the children of Israel would have claimed the Promised Land without a 40-year wait and a lot of bloody battles. If it were true, the multitude Jesus fed with a few loaves and fishes would have been successful in claiming Him as their earthly King. If it were true, the cup of suffering our Savior had to drink for our salvation would have passed from His hand and the cruel cross would have been crossed out. If it were true, Jesus could have claimed a life in which He lived happily ever after. If it were true. But it isn't. Our Lord denied Himself and He died. Our Lord denied Himself and because He denied Himself, we are saved. Because of that denial, we are glad to listen when He says, "If anyone would come after Me, He must deny himself and follow Me."

As I said, we are glad to listen, but that doesn't mean we are glad to do it. The young child does not want to be denied the right to stay up late tonight even though school starts tomorrow. The teenager does not wish to be denied the right to drive a car or play on the varsity team. The women of the world do not want to be denied the right to an abortion. The unhappy couple does not want to be denied their opportunity for divorce. We find it difficult to deny ourselves the flat screen TV and the new vehicle so that we can afford a private Christian education for our children and more ministries for our church. Nobody wants to be denied anything they think they've got coming to them. The word deny is a four-letter word to everybody, except God.

Deny is a four-letter word that God believes in. The Father, in His great plan of grace to save humanity from its sins, for 33 years denied Jesus His heavenly throne and sent Him to the earth. There, every moment of every day of every week of every month of every year, He denied Himself and fulfilled the law for us. On earth, as Jesus took our place, He denied Himself the comfort of a family, the peace of a good home, the security of everything money could buy. Jesus denied Himself all the things that generally make people happy. Jesus denied Himself so that all who believe in Him might live forever. Jesus lived that four-letter word deny. Don't be surprised. Jesus used other four-letter words, too – words like love and care and give and hope and rest. The word deny is fine when it comes to God, but foolish and futile when it is applied to many of us.

Too many Christians want the grounds of their church to be inviting, but no one wants to take the time to clean the church or attend a scheduled workday. Too many Christians expect their called servants to be there in times of crisis and calamity, to be on call 24/7, but those same Christians won’t make a commitment to attend their pastor’s Bible study when things are going well. Too many Christian parents want their teachers to teach and train, coach and volunteer, but those same parents aren’t willing to make that same commitment to volunteer in the classroom or field trips or lunchroom or athletic field. Too many Christians want their church to be warm, to grow, to be inviting, but they won't deny themselves, step out of their comfort zone and say, "hello" to the stranger at the door. To them – to each one of us – Jesus says, "Deny yourself, and follow Me."

Too often we get caught up in the world that our Christ-less contemporaries are trying to create – a world where they expect to find happiness right here and right now. They want to be happy. They deserve to be happy. They will do whatever is necessary to bring that happiness home.

On my TV, I have one home-shopping channel after another, one infomercial after another, all telling me what to buy to find real happiness and be the envy of my neighbor, which of course, will make him unhappy. The truth is, this world does not have the materials necessary to construct happiness. That's why when the box comes from the shopping channel or from EBay, unbelieving lives are still filled with despair, discouragement, disappointment, doubt, and depression. There is an emptiness without Jesus inside that no credit card can satisfy.

Deny is a four-letter word avoided by people. Is there no one prepared to deny himself? Over a century ago, at Ragenbach, Germany, on a warm afternoon, a lot of folks were chatting in the large room of the town's inn. The door stood open and the town blacksmith sat nearby. Suddenly, a mad dog rushed in, but was quickly seized by the blacksmith. "Hurry out", he said, "while I hold him." The mad dog bit furiously on every side. His teeth tore the arms and thighs of the blacksmith, but he would not loosen his hold. When all the people had escaped, he flung the half-strangled beast from him against the wall, left the room and locked the door. The dog was shot, but what was to become of the man who had now been infected? The friends whose lives he had saved stood around, weeping. "Be quiet, don't weep. I've only done my duty. When I am dead, think of me with love. Before then, pray that I will not suffer long or too much. The disease shall make me mad, but I will take care that no harm comes to you." He then went back to his shop, took a strong chain and riveted one end around his body. The other end he fastened around the anvil. Turning to his friends, he said, "It's done! You are safe. I can't hurt you. Bring me food while I am well. Keep out of my reach when I am mad. The rest I leave with God." Madness seized him, and in nine days he died – gloriously for his friends. There are people out there who are ready to deny themselves.

That's what Jesus did, except Jesus died not for His friends but for His enemies. When we were threatened by sin, He grabbed hold of it, reached out to it, and throttled it. Sin, Satan and death snapped and tore at Him. But He denied Himself so that we might be saved. Such an action was done not without cost. He had to suffer so we might be saved. He was crucified so we might be cleared from the curse of sin. He did all this so the damned might be delivered; those destined for hell might find heaven. That's why Jesus denied Himself. When Peter tried to argue Him out of His denial and death, Jesus continued on. Now He says to us, deny yourself. Not because you have to, but because you are free to. Washed in Jesus' blood, you are at peace. You are free. Free to deny yourself because it's the right thing for Jesus' disciples to do. Free – because you can't help yourself.

You deny yourself a free public school education so your child can receive a solid Christ-centered education. You deny yourself the wish-washy morality so prevalent in many churches today, so you can be a confessional Lutheran Christian who stands up for God’s morality. You deny yourself sleeping in or overtime pay or attending sporting events, so you can give praise to the God who has given you everything. You deny your sinful nature that finds happiness in the pleasures of this world, so you can find true joy and contentment in the pleasures of the kingdom of heaven.

Take up your cross. Deny yourself. Follow the Savior. Will it be difficult? Of course it will.

However, every time you lift a cross in obedience to Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to bear that cross. Every time you carry a cross out of thanksgiving to Christ your Savior, the Holy Spirit will grant you the ability to shoulder that cross. Are you ready to deny yourself? Join the millions of Christians who have found Jesus' words to be true. Look past those who are still dragging the chains of this life. See the tens of millions that Jesus has touched and join us. God can use you. God can use any believer who denies himself or herself. Yes, deny is a dirty word to the people of this world. It always has been; always will be. But for believers it is commendable to copy Christ who saves us and empowers people to deny ourselves with joy. Amen.