November 9, 2025

Matt. 16:24-26            Die, and You Shall Live 
 
Introduction
There was a respectable rabbi who was on the verge of dying. People gathered in a synagogue to pray for him, "Oh, God. Grant him a longer life span to him." They heard the voice of God from the Heaven. "I grant your prayer on one condition: everyone must give him part of your own lifespan."
Their noisy prayer abruptly stopped and a dead-like silence covered them for a few minutes. They wanted the rabbi to live longer. However, no one wanted to give some of his/her life for the rabbi.
Then a man suddenly stood up and broke the silence saying, "I will give him twenty years." All their attention was focused on the man who said this. It was Moses, who was notorious for misery. People applauded his courage. Then he stopped their applause and added, "Not my life, but my step-mother's."
What will be more precious in the world than one's own life? That's the reason why today's scripture say "What 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?" People love money, but there is none who will exchanges his life with much money.
Life is much precious than any things. So, for life people are ready to pay all things they have. However, we can't do our life at our own will. It is in His hand. Today's scriptures tip us what we should do to save our soul.
 
Main
I. First, it says, "Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it." (v. 25a)
In the quarterly The Upper Room, there is a moving story. During the Korean War, a pastor was caught and was put to people's court. A comrade said to the pastor, "Disown your faith and curse God, and you will live. However, if you insist your faith, you shall die. Do you understand?" The pastor clearly said so that all the people who were standing around him could hear, "I confess my faith in Jesus so that I live." The comrade whipped him and said, "I told you that if you confess your faith, you shall die, die!" Then the pastor said, "You are wrong. If I die confessing my faith, I shall live forever. If I live and desert my faith, I shall die forever. I will die to live forever."
Only a foolish bee approaches an insectivorous sundew plant to get some honey. "Whoever wants to save the temporal life, will lose the eternal life."
Two rich merchants who were on a business trip met a blizzard on a mountain. They lost their way and drifted off the path. They found a shelter: a crevice in the side of the mountain. It was so cold that they tried to make a fire with some logs, but there was no kindling. A merchant took out a roll of money from his inner pocket and began to kindle on it. The other merchant also took out a roll of money and at last they made an expensive bonfire. They could warm themselves with the fire, and the relief squad could save their lives seeing the smoke they made.
In chapter 22 of 2 Kings, an evil king Ahab waded a war with Aram, ignoring God's warning through prophet Micaiah. He disguised himself as a common soldier to deviate from a concentrated attack. He clothed Jehoshaphat with his armor. However, the enemy's arrows deviated Jehoshaphat. However, a 'mad' arrow hit the king by chance through the sections of his armor and stuck on his heart. He met a miserable last moment in the chariot. He tried all efforts to save his life, but life was not at his command. "In His hand He got the whole world."
Yoe Unyoung, a famous Korean actor, died last week. People say that she has been very meticulous in the foods she ate. Healthy food couldn't keep her healthy. We should admit that life is at God's command.
 
II. Secondly, "Whoever loses his life for me(Jesus), will find it." (v.25b)
Being different from the Ahab who tried to secure his life out of God's command, David acknowledged God's command in his life. He relied on God, calling Him, "You are my shield and my buckler." He could go forward bravely in the shower of arrows, relying on "the Shield."
One day, S. Sundar Singh(1889-1929) was climbing Mt. Himalaya with a Tibet aborigine to mission the area on a cold day. The blizzard was so strong that it seemed they could not go ahead any further. When they arrived at a cliff, they found a man almost frozen to death. Singh suggested to carry him to a near shelter, but the Tibetan would not listen to him. He said, "If we spend time to save the frozen man, we all shall be frozen to death." He left Singh and the frozen man behind and went ahead by himself.
Sundar Singh put the dying man on his back and tried to carry him with all his strength. While he exerted himself to go forward, he made not only himself, but also the frozen man warm. The frozen man recovered his consciousness. When they almost were almost to a shelter, there was a man frozen to death. It was the Tibetan who left alone leaving them behind.
If we die for Jesus, not only we shall live, but others also shall live by us. He teaches, "Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me(Jesus), will find it."
 
III. Lastly, to be his followers, we should also bear our crosses. (v. 24)
Jesus died to save us. As our Savior and Lord, he wants us to be his followers. Disciples are to do what the teacher does. When the teach goes, the disciple follow him. When the teacher stops, the disciples stop. We should do what Jesus did.
1. Bear your cross with love. If you bear it with love, you feel it is not so heavy. Jesus has willingly born the cross with love for us. Two weeks ago, you prepared food for Chusuk, Korean Thanksgiving with love. One of our church member said, "When I make food, I always imagine people who enjoy my food." She is willingly bearing her cross with love. "And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." What do you think Jesus wanted to teach in this passage? I believe Jesus wanted us to do it with love and willingness.
2. Bear the cross together. We, Koreans say, "Even a sheet of paper, it is much easier to bring it together." Jesus, who was worn out with whips and taunts, had no power left to bear his cross. Then Simon, a Cyrenean, bore the cross for Jesus. Jesus was very thankful for Simon's help. Bear the cross together. And bear each other's burden.
Our church is 6,000 square feet which is the size of three houses. It is not easy to clean whole church by one volunteer. If many of us do it together, it will be fun and encouraging.
Do you think it is the pillars that hold the weight of a house? No. All parts hold each other. Because all bricks share the weight, you can't take out a brick without breaking down. The Opera House in Sydney, Australia is famous for balance of weight of the building. The weight of the building is very evenly distributed on the thin sashes that hold the glass. I wish our church is like the Opera House: each of our church member holds each of others.
3. Bear your cross with joy. In the last week Thanksgiving party, one of the servers said, "Yesterday, I worked all day long, but I cooked for several hour last night and today with pleasure." Cooking must have been a cross hard to bear for you. However, many of you 'fought' to take in charge of time-consuming foods. I know it was from your considerate hearts for others. So, that kind of fight is good and enjoyable one.
If you were forced to do a thing, it is no longer pleasurable. However, when you volunteer it with loving heart, it will be your privilege and joy.
We Korean pastors met to prepare for the Florida SBC few weeks ago. The president asked for volunteering to make a draft bill for KSBC. No one volunteered. It was time-consuming job, so no one wanted to do. So, the president designated it to a pastor randomly just for fun. Then the pastor accepted the proposal willingly saying, "I'm not good at it, but I want to learn about it." I thought, "What a positive attitude he has!" He impressed me much. This made me to think him differently. 
 
Conclusion
Enjoy what you are doing. Treadmilling was actually hard servants' job. Nowadays, people do it as an exercise. When Jean Valjon built his body by working hard in jail for 40 years, he became a Hercules. When we bear our cross faithfully, God will bless with things we didn't expect.
1)Jesus said, "Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, 2)whoever loses his life for me(Jesus), will find it. 3)To be my disciples, you should also bear your crosses and follow. It is hard thing to bear the cross, but when we 1)bear it with love, 2)bear it together 3)bear it with joyful heart and willingness, God promised in verse 27, "I will reward each person according to what he has done."
Some people enjoy cooking food for fellowship even though they work so much. Actually, what is so enjoyable? It must be hard work that takes money, time, and energy, but it must be because there is the joy of serving others. They know the joy of bearing cross by serving others. As Jesus' disciples, we must follow him bearing our cross. If we must bear it, bear it happily. When our life is over and we put down our heavy burden, I am sure that the Lord will pat on our backs and praised us saying, "Well done, my children."