Matthew 16:21-28 confronts us with the gap between Jesus' gruesome fate and our own modest discipleship. Jesus' verbs say it all. Deny the self, take up the cross, follow Christ. Moreover, only in losing one's life -- the primary meaning of apollymi is to destroy -- one may save it. And Jesus apparently means it. Judgment, he says, involves "repaying" people according to what they have done. At this moment we are hearing Matthew's distinctive voice: Salvation comes not to those who call Jesus "Lord," but to those who do what he says (7:21-29). The Great Commission involves teaching people "to obey everything that I have commanded you" (28:20). It's a matter of life and death. Disciples are to walk Jesus' grim path.
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