Dear Christian friends:

Yesterday evening we read in the newspaper about Ronald Steeves. The article said that many of his friends and even his pastor, Rev. Johnson, were very surprised that he could kill someone. They said he never showed anger or violence before. They were very surprised.

But really we should not be so surprised. The Bible says we all have murder in our hearts. Jesus says, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:19) "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15) Do you think your heart is better than Ronald Steeves? When you read about that terrible murder in the newspaper did you think: "Bad boy!, He should be hung! If you thought that and said that you are a self-righteous, "Pharisee" hypocrite.

Before God we are all murderers and as guilty as Ronald Steeves. And like Ronald Steeves only one thing can save us and lead us from sin and shame to a life of honor again. That one thing is the cross of Jesus Christ. Before the choir sang, "In the Cross of Christ I Glory". If you have any understanding, if you know your sinful heart and deeds you, too, will say and sing:


Our text shows that Jesus found glory in the cross. "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." (Matthew 16:21)

Proud man does not think that the cross leads to glory. When Jesus told the disciples that He must go up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, Peter, like all proud men rebuked Him, "Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!" (Matthew 16:22) But 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." (Matthew 16:23)

By nature all of us are proud and self-righteous. We do not want to think and confess that we are sinners like Ronald Steeves. We do not want to confess that only the blood of the crucified Son of God can save us.

We don't want to be humble and ashamed and confess our sins and kneel before the cross of Christ. We like to hide our sins or argue and defend them and act so smart and good. We don't feel much need for preaching of the cross, and for baptism. We don't care if we miss church one or two Sundays. We don't think it is very necessary and important to tell others of Jesus Christ or to support world missions. We look for comfort, honor and life in this world.

Before I read the gospel lesson. Satan tempted Jesus three times in the desert to give up the way of the cross and offered Him all the glory and riches of this world. But Jesus said, "No" to Satan and also here in our text. Jesus says He must go up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and on the third day rise again. He must pay for our sins with His life and blood. By that He wins forgiveness, life and glory for us and for Himself. Jesus knows that there is only one way out of our sin and death. That way is the Cross. So He accepts our sins and dies the shameful, lonely, accursed death of the cross.

Then Jesus says to Peter, the disciples and to all of us. "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24) Do you want to escape from sin, shame and hell? Of course you do. Then deny yourself as Jesus here says. What does that mean, "Deny yourself?" It means deny your own self-righteousness and deny your own goodness and worth. Confess your sins honestly. Admit that you are as bad as Ronald Steeves and cannot save yourself.

Then "take up the cross". What does that mean? Believe in Jesus crucified for your forgiveness and salvation. Love that cross! Treasure it! Don't boast in your self but boast in the cross. Kneel before the cross every day and look to Jesus for comfort, peace and righteousness before God. Support the preaching of the cross! Tell of the cross with your hands in signs to other deaf who do not understand yet or believe.

Now if you glory in the cross many self-righteous deaf and hearing people will think you are foolish or crazy. You will suffer mockery and shame from unbelievers who glory in their vain pride and worldly things. They will laugh and mock you because you love your Bible so much and your church and because you witness. They will say, "Forget church and come have a good time with us." If you say, "No" you will lose their friendship.

But that's alright. Jesus says here, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26)

By denying Jesus and his cross you can impress many proud and vain people. You can win and have many friends and maybe get lots of money and good times, but what good are all your friends and money if you lose your soul and go to hell?

Better to deny proud and vain people and the world. Suffer under the cross now and you will have a crown and glory with Jesus at last.

Amen.