© 2007-2008 John Thornburg
One Among the Thorny Sayings
8.7.8.7. D
One among the thorny sayings
spoken by the Nazarene
is the call to self denial:
“Take the cross and follow me.”
Then he spoke in backward logic
we can scarcely comprehend;
“Those who lose their lives will save them.”
Hoarding has no dividend.
On the road the Twelve debated
who among them was supreme.
But the Savior’s knowing question
toppled their provincial scheme.
“If you would be first and servant,
you must be the last of all.”
Jesus’ holy mathematics
is a life-reversing call.
Then, to illustrate the sermon,
Jesus took a little one,
placing [her] within the circle
where the teaching had begun.
“If you welcome little children,
if you greet them in my name,
you acknowledge God who sent me.
Let that welcome be your aim.”
We are still debating greatness;
our ambition is intense.
We deny the words of Jesus;
‘last’ and ‘losing’ make no sense.
Free our hearts, O God, to fathom
how our lives can be restored
if we live in true surrender
to our resurrected Lord.