The Cost of Discipleship
Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Close your eyes
Picture Jesus - What comes to mind?
(pictures of Jesus)
The Confession of Jesus Christ (27-30)
The Clarification of Jesus as Christ (31-33)
The Cost of following the Christ (34-38)
Mark 8:27–38 (ESV)
Jesus had just come from Bethsaida where he healed a blind man
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
In this passage we find Jesus “on the way.” In fact, this is the theme of chapters 8-10 — Jesus now on his way to Jerusalem.
Passage just before our passage today - Jesus heals a blind man
End of chapter 10 Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus, and all along “the way” Jesus is doing exactly what he has done for the blind men who bookend this section. Jesus is opening the eyes of his disciples to see who he really is so they can understand what he came to do.
Like the blind man healed just before our passage today, the teaching that Jesus gives his disciples seems blurry at first, even confusing, and will only later come into focus.
In this passage we are going to find one of the clearest statements of Jesus’ identity and what he came to do which up to this point, had only been given to us by Mark as the narrator (1:1), by God at Jesus’ baptism and on three occasions by demons. This will be the first time a human in Mark’s story clearly identifies who Jesus is!
Caesarea Philippi
North of Sea of Galilee
famous for sanctuary to Pan - half man, half goat guardian of flocks
It is in this pagan environment that Jesus chose to ask the questions.
First, Jesus asks a seemingly innocuous question: “Who do people say that I am?” A question about the public opinion of Jesus.
The disciples answer that the “people” see Jesus as a prophet (They are partially right). This may sound great - Jesus is likened to some of the greatest prophets and most moral men in history, but it is a far cry from who Jesus is as the very God of all creation who hold the world together at his will.
How does the world today view Jesus?
Good moral example
Wise teacher
Religious figurehead similar to Muhammed or Buddha
An exaggerated legend
But then Jesus changes the direction of the question:
“Jesus is not content to know what others think and say of him. His mission is not decided by his standing in the polls but by the judgment of each follower whom he has called. “ ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ . . .
This judgment cannot be rendered by collecting more evidence and data, or by further deliberations, observations, discussions, and explanations. The disciples must move from the status of passive recipients to active participants. At some point the colleagues of Jesus—and everyone who has heard his name—must look deep within Jesus and deep within themselves and risk a decision that will entail either a commitment to or a severance from the identity and mission of this Jesus.”
— Pillar Commentary on Mark
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
*ILLUSTs - What do people say about my preaching? vs. What do YOU think about my preaching?
Knowing Jesus is based on personal understanding, not public opinion.
Knowing Jesus is based on personal understanding, not public opinion.
There is a public / popular understanding of Jesus and a personal understanding of Jesus.
There is a popular understanding of Jesus and a personal understanding of Jesus. One is based on what people say, the other is based on who you know Jesus to be.
A popular understanding of Jesus does not save!
Have you looked to see who Jesus really is? — beyond a popular description.
“Who do you say that I am?” is the central question of Mark’s gospel as well as the central question of YOUR life, and it is the singular answer of the gospel.
**If there is one point of application that echoes from this passage, through the millennia of cultures and contexts, and rings just as clear today, it is this — WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? It was a question for Peter and it is a question for YOU!!!
Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Why? Because Jesus understood that. . .
Knowing who Jesus is doesn’t mean you understand everything he does.
Knowing who Jesus is doesn’t mean you understand everything he does.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Peter had answered rightly though somewhat blindly.
Like the blind man whom Jesus had recently healed, Peter had sight of who Jesus was, only it was a bit blurry.
Peter claimed Jesus was the Christ - the Messiah - and Peter was right, but Jesus knew that Peter, the disciples, and many others had very little idea who the Messiah really would be and what he would come to do.
Greek word “Christ” translates the Heb. word, “Messiah” which means “to anoint.” In OT three groups of people were anointed: prophets, priests, and kings
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
There is no evidence that any in ancient Judaism believed that the Messiah would need to suffer or die.
Surely Jesus did not understand this (or so Peter thought and felt the need to correct Jesus’ theology).
“Get behind me, Satan” - statement to all disciples and not simply directed at Peter. Peter was not satanic but his understanding of the Messiah was. It was satanic because if Jesus were only an earthly king it would short-circuit God’s plan of salvation.
How confusing for Peter. It would seem Peter understood that following Jesus as Messiah would be following Jesus into Jerusalem for Jesus to take the throne - surely placing Peter in a high position.
Instead, Jesus is talking about suffering, rejection, and death! That was NOT the direction that Peter was expecting or hoping for! He didn’t know following Jesus would lead to THIS!
Jesus (and the Christian life) can be confusing at times.
You’ve been a faithful follower of Jesus and you find yourself in a place of suffering.
You didn’t expect Jesus to lead you HERE.
Jesus didn’t tell you this when you signed up!
You don't need to have Jesus “figured out” in order to (faithfully) follow him.
You don't need to have Jesus “figured out” in order to (faithfully) follow him.
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
You don't need to have Jesus “figured out” in order to (faithfully) follow him
Jesus’s answer to Peter’s misconception of Jesus’ purpose was not to give Peter a biblical theological survey of the Messiah or an exegesis of Isaiah 53 with commentary on how the Messiah would be the Suffering Servant.
Jesus was less concerned about clearing Peter’s thoughts as he was about directing his steps.
You don't need to have Jesus “figured out” in order to (faithfully) follow him.
Because you are following who Jesus IS not what you think he may be doing.
Jesus didn’t ask his disciples, “Where do you think we are going?” He asked them “Who do you say that I am?”
In other words, trust Jesus because you understand who he is not because you have figured out what he is doing.
You can follow Jesus even if you haven’t figured out everything about Jesus.
You just need to be willing to follow him(whatever the cost)
Deny yourself
Deny yourself
If you are not willing to drop your desires and expectations to follow Jesus then he is not your Lord he’s your idol
made in the image of your desires
We were made to reflect Christ, but too often we only want to follow a Christ that reflects us - our desires.
If my understanding of Christ and I are similar it is either that I have become sanctified and Christ-like or I have redefined my understanding of Jesus to fit my own desires.
The only safeguard against this is is to understand Christ as he is revealed to us in Scripture.
Jesus isn’t woke
Jesus isn’t our justification for popular or political agendas
Jesus IS and we bow to him!
Take up your cross
Take up your cross
The cross was a symbol of guilt, shame, and pain. It stripped you of everything in your life and even of your life. It was giving up control at the hands of another.
Jesus gave himself over to the Romans - cruel overlords who controlled your life until death.
Why would Jesus do this?! Because he understood the cost to be worth it. He understood YOU to be worth it!
Jesus is calling his followers to be willing to give up their lives and even endure suffering and shame for his sake - realizing the cost is worth it.
The world has seen enough of half-committed followers of Christ:
willing to pick up their Bible but not their cross
willing to tithe a little but not give their all
willing to sit in a pew in church but unwilling to stand with Christ at work
Standing with Jesus on Sunday but too nervous to be a witness for him on Monday.
If we are ashamed of Christ (or his words) now, he will be ashamed of us when he returns
This doesn’t means we are unashamed to say we follow Jesus - remember, the world has it’s own popular understanding of Jesus and may be perfectly fine for you to follow that version of Jesus.
Jesus said we are to be unashamed of him AND his words
This means not being ashamed:
To claim that God determines the gift of gender.
To call the act of homosexuality SIN
To claim abortion as murder
To serve the foreigner among us
to care for the orphan and the widow in their distress and their mess
to serve rather than expect to be served
to wait until we’re married to have sex
to stand with the abused even if that means turning in our friends
to look like a fool in the eyes of your family, your coworkers, or friends if it means doing the right thing
to love our enemies across the ocean and across the aisle
How can we ask Jesus to stand with us if we will not stand for him?
Quote by British revivalist Henry Varley and often attributed to D. L. Moody -
“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.”
Many have rejected the COST in exchange for COMFORT
If you think all that I have just said sounds too extreme or too fanatical, I challenge you to find some other way to understand the sense of this passage.
Who is Jesus to you?
Who is Jesus to you?
I’m not asking the congregation their public opinion — I’m asking YOU. Because it is not WE who will need to give an answer, it is YOU.
Who is Jesus to you?
This is the question of the Latino church I had witnessed as they interviewed their baptismal candidates.
Who is Jesus to you?
A wise teacher who helps me live a clean life.
A good example for me to know how to live a moral life.
Religious relic my parents or pastor talked about.
My go-to when things are tough and I have nowhere else to turn.
OR
Él es mi vida - He is my life!
my righteousness - the very reason I can have eternal life. He exchanged his righteousness for my sin.
My Saviour
My treasure for whom I will give up all this world has to offer
Will you follow him whatever it requires? Even if it is confusing? Even if it costs?
Will you follow him whatever it requires? Even if it is confusing? Even if it costs?
Perhaps you’re here today and you know who Christ is but you are confused at what he is doing in your life.
Still not married, still not healed, still no answer, still not free.
Remind yourself again who Christ is. He is God and he is good.
Maybe you’re here today and you’re not really sure who or what you are following.
Jesus is more of a concept than Christ in your life.
Today is the day to commit or recommit your life to Christ.
Jesus was not ashamed of you when he carried his cross, as he was beaten, as he was bloodied, as he was spit on, as he was whipped, as cussed at, cursed, and crushed.
He was not ashamed of you when he hung naked on a cross for all his enemies to laugh at.
He was not ashamed to give his life for you, will you be ashamed to commit your life to him?
He is good, and yet He is GOD.
Respond