Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus would predict His Own death...And when He as talking about this, He tells us “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me...For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it...What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?...Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?...For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s Glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done...“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”...
C.S. Lewis, the often read Christian author, explored profound themes of faith, reason, humanity, and ones like Matthew wrote about Jesus teachings of self-surrender...One of his most significant ideas revolves around the concept of self-surrender...Self-surrender emphasizes a more active and joyful yielding to God's will...It's about recognizing your limitations and acknowledging our need for God's guidance...It's about choosing to align your will with His, trusting in His plan, and finding fulfillment in serving a higher purpose...Lewis believed that true fulfillment and joy are not found in the pursuit of personal ambition, worldly success, or the accumulation of possessions...Instead, true happiness lies in surrendering oneself to something greater than oneself...
Lewis argued that when we prioritize our own desires and ambitions, we become self-centered, we think more about ourselves, and then ultimately find ourselves empty and dissatisfied...He believed that true joy and fulfillment come from aligning our lives with a higher purpose, from seeking to serve something greater than ourselves...This could manifest in various ways, such as serving others, pursuing truth and knowledge, or dedicating oneself to a cause larger than oneself...He believed in the Sacred and Holy…Lewis believed in the Divinity of Jesus Christ...
Lewis believed in trusting in the LORD and often used the analogy of a ship...A ship that resists the current will be battered and tossed, ultimately losing its course...However, a ship that yields to the current can navigate smoothly and reach its destination...Similarly, he believed that when we resist God's will and cling to our own desires, we experience inner turmoil and dissatisfaction...But when we surrender to God's plan, we find true peace and fulfillment...
This concept of self-surrender is not about self-denial, but recognizing that true fulfillment doesn't come from pursuing personal ambition, accumulating wealth, having more material things, or constantly striving for personal gain...It is about recognizing our limitations and acknowledging our need for something greater than ourselves...Lewis saw our need in a Savior...It is about aligning our will with God's will, allowing Him to guide and direct our lives...We are to follow His Light and His Lamp...Jesus is the Lamp unto our feet...
In essence, Lewis believed that true fulfillment is found not in the pursuit of personal gain, but in the selfless pursuit of truth, goodness, and love...By surrendering to God and allowing Him to work through us, we can experience a deeper level of joy, peace, and meaning in our lives...We can live an abundant life...This, according to Lewis, is the path to true happiness and ultimate fulfillment...
So when Lewis wrote: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance...The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”...This quote and his ideas above captures the essence of self-surrender and the pursuit of true fulfillment...These passages emphasize the importance of aligning our will with God's will and finding joy in serving something greater than ourselves...