Lose your Life

Mark Massaro

First Baptist Church - Dunkirk NY

The Crown & The Cross • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Intro

Have you ever faced a choice of giving up something in order to get something better?

Maybe it was giving up lots of your free time and putting in hard physical effort in order to become successful in a sport.

Maybe it was taking on student loans and spending hours of studying to complete a degree for a better job.

Maybe it was laying out your own money for a new business idea that just might become a great success.

Sometimes we think of these things in terms of risk versus reward - where you make an educated choice to risk something for a greater return or profit.

Other times it’s a quick gut decision based on how much you value the thing you are willing to risk. Like a friendship or a job you don’t want to lose. You have those people you would drop anything for right?

This morning, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus will really shake up his followers with a call to real discipleship that has tremendous costs or risk. He initially called the the twelve men to follow him and learn from him. Now Jesus raises the stakes and tells them that following Him will become much more serious and dangerous. Were they willing to risk everything?

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.

Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in the first 8 chapters (the crown) and then in the last 8 chapters we see Him fulfilling His life’s purpose in suffering and dying on the cross.

This morning as we conclude chapter 8, we start the second half of the Gospel, where Jesus begins moving towards Jerusalem to fulfill His life’s purpose in suffering and dying on the cross.

PRAY

READ Mark 8:27-38

Who am I?

vv 28-30

As Jesus is about to reveal his true mission to his disciples, he begins, as usual with some questions to see where they are in their understanding. If you recall from two weeks ago, the disciples were still struggling to understand that Jesus could provide anything they needed (like bread) and could heal any illness. in 8:21 Jesus asked Do you not yet understand?

So now as and the twelve are on their way toward Caesarea Philippi - this is at the foot of Mt. Hermon - the highest mountain in Israel, Jesus asks “Who do people say I am?” Several answers include John the Baptist (back from the dead), Elijah, Jeremiah (in Matt 16) or one of the other prophets. These were all men who spoke from God. Then Jesus asks “But who do you say I am?” Peter, often the first to talk, said, “You are the Christ.”

The “Christ” is Greek for the Messiah in Hebrew. It means “the Anointed One” - someone consecrated or set apart by God for a particular task like David was anointed as king. The Jews heard from the prophets about the Messiah who would come to save Israel and destroy her enemies.

Matthew 16 includes more of Peter’s statement “you are the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus responds saying Peter, you did not figure this out on your own, God told you. Peter’s confession of faith is the first time in Mark anyone said this about Jesus.

SIDE NOTE: The word confession means “to say the same thing; to agree; or to admit something. We often use it today to only mean “I admit I did something wrong” but it can also be used in a positive way like a statement of faith or belief.

Jesus said, I will build my church on this foundation - not Peter as the first Pope, but this profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.

All through the first half of Mark’s gospel, we have not heard the word “Christ” spoken by anyone. Only God the Father at his baptism, and the demons have called Jesus the Son of God. But all through the past eight chapters we have seen and heard clear evidence of Jesus acting and saying all the things the OT prophets said would be true of the Messiah. Preaching repentance, healing the blind, deaf and lame, caring for his wandering sheep, authority over nature, and more.

David Garland, who wrote one of my commentaries said “Peter’s confession is at the very center of the Gospel. It serves as a hinge between the first half, where Jesus’ power is so prominent, and the second half, where his weakness becomes predominant.”

By confirming that Peter’s answer came from God, Jesus is saying “Yes, that is right, I am the Messiah” but don’t tell anyone. Jesus has asked people to hide his miracles and now his identity. It is not because it isn’t true, but he knows what will happen when people try to force him to be their king.

They expect the Messiah to be a conquering king, so Jesus began to teach them what he must do.

What I must do

vv 31-33

There are four things here that did not fit the concept of the Messiah as conquering king. Jesus didn’t say these things would happen to him. He said the Son of Man must… He was in full control. This was God’s redemption plan. And Jesus laid this out very clearly or plainly as verse 32 says. There were no parables or hidden meanings. He meant exactly what he said.

I must suffer many things

I must be rejected by elders, chief priests, and scribes

I must be killed

I must rise from dead after three day

Peter just couldn’t keep quiet. And so he pulls Jesus to the side and starts rebuking him. That means correcting like scolding. I can imagine Peter saying, Jesus, do you realize what you just said? That’s not how the Messiah, the Christ, will be treated. His people will love him. They will make him King. Everything is going so well. You can’t go around saying things like this. We had thousands of people coming out to hear you teaching. You’re going to ruin everything!

Jesus turns, looks at the rest of disciples, as if to say, is this what you all think? And then he rebuked or corrected Peter right back. But this is super harsh! Jesus said to Peter, Get behind me Satan!”

Wait? Peter who just called Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God? How can he be Satan? What has he done wrong?

Just as God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah, now Satan has planted the seed of doubting Jesus’ word in Peter. Just like he did in the Garden with Eve. Just like he did when he tempted Jesus to skip the whole messiah plan and simply bow to him. Satan is the original author of lies. He always makes disobeying God look good. But he is pure poison!

Jesus will not let Satan win Peter’s heart or let himself be tempted to skip the awful suffering and dying part of God’s plan. In Jesus’ weakness - dying on the cross, God’s power would be strongest in destroying the power of sin, death and the grave.

Jesus explains to Peter “Your mind is set on things of man - human, temporary, fleeting when they should be set on things of God. I’ve been telling you about the kingdom of God and how it is different and so far superior to any kingdom of earth. We are doing this God’s way, not man’s way. I have to give up my life. Peter, I won’t let you try to stop God’s plan.

How could Peter go from such a glorious high to such a dismal low? Not to excuse him, but the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7 about this spiritual battle waging war in us. v. 18 I desire to do what is right, but don’t have the ability to do it. v. 24 wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! in the next chapter, Roman 9:6-7 we see “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, it does not submit to God. Peter, set your mind on the things of God!

Do you struggle with this like I do? I usually know the right thing to do, but the wrong thing looks so good - it’s easier, it’s more fun, it appears to cost less, everyone else seems to be enjoying it too. Ask God to help you see these temptations as traps and pray for strength to avoid them.

Jesus knew that he must die. Hebrews 9:22 says “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Just as we saw in the Garden, last week, the only way Adam and Eve’s sin could be covered was by the death of another. Jesus’ death would not be a failure of his mission, it would be victory over sin’s hold on humanity. It would pay for the sins of the whole world - for everyone who would believe. Death loses its sting, because we have eternal life. We can live to love Christ and love others instead of living in constant fear of death and wondering “am I measuring up?”

What You Must Do

vv 34-38

Now Jesus calls a larger crowd together along with the disciples and preaches a really difficult sermon - one they don’t want to hear - especially from their Messiah.

If you want to come after me (be my disciple), you have to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Just three not easy steps to a real relationship with God. Each of these negatives have enormous positives. It’s like the upside-down in Stranger Things - what looks good in the world is actually deadly and what seems bad is actually good.

Deny yourself - your identity is not in what you do or what you accumulate. It has nothing to do with your performance or achievements. As a follower of Jesus, you deny yourself and accept God’s definition of your value: loved by God, a chosen & adopted son or daughter of God, holy and blameless before Him, blessed, redeemed, forgiven, sealed by the Holy Spirit, joint-heirs with Jesus, and holders of eternal life. To deny yourself is to accept God’s perspective on life and everything. If you are willing to lose your old identity (the Bible calls this the old person) you will be created new in the image of Christ.

Take up your cross - a condemned man was forced to pick up the cross bar of his cross and carry it to his execution. When Jesus was too weak after being beaten almost to death, Simon was told to carry it for him. Carrying your cross is not just doing hard things, it is being ready to die to your own selfish will and desires. Die to your own self-determination, die to trying to control your own life, dying to using Jesus for your own agenda - what you can get out of him. Taking up your cross is recognizing that you deserve to die for your own sins, but there is nothing you can do yourself. You admit your need for a Savior who died on the cross in your place and mine.

Follow me - Jesus just told his disciples that he was headed to die. And now he said, you have to be ready to follow me - even to die as I will. You have to be willing to lose your life in order to save it. For the early disciples, that literally meant dying for preaching the Gospel. Today when we follow Jesus, we also need to share the Gospel, we obey His commandments, and we submit to His will for our lives instead of our own. In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul talked about giving up our personal preferences for the sake of others.

Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

v. 36 For what does it profit a man...

If our lives are all about pleasing ourselves we will find loneliness, despair, frustration hatred, ruin and decay.

But if we follow Christ we find peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and life!

Deitrich Bonhoeffer, was a pastor and patriot in Germany during WW2. He was eventually imprisoned and executed when the Nazis knew they couldn’t win the war. Bonhoeffer knew something about sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. He called his fellow German Christians to choose Jesus over their nationalism.

Many preachers make choosing Jesus sound too easy. Just accept his love and forgiveness, but they leave out the sacrifice of self that makes your faith the most important part of your life.

There are a lot of people who consider themselves Christians but have no interest in changing or growing to be more like Jesus. Don’t just come to church - follow Jesus in every part of your life. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

Take Aways

Who do people say Jesus is? - great teacher, religious leader, a good man.

Who do YOU say Jesus is? Have you trusted in Him as your Savior? Jesus is the only way to be forgiven and have a right relationship with God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God except through him.

Set your mind on the things of God - Is your focus in life spiritual truth and eternity, or are you preoccupied with the here and now? Don’t work to simply accumulate treasure here on earth. Where your treasures are is where your heart is.

Deny yourself - Is your view of yourself based on your career, your education, your family, your money, your reputation, or power? Jesus said you can gain the whole world, but lose your soul. Is your life about you or glorifying Jesus? Submit to Him.

Take up your cross - Are you willing to do hard things for the sake of the gospel? Will you suffer shame and loss to honor Jesus and bring others to him? Is following Jesus by serving others and through reading His Word and prayer the priority in your daily schedule?

Lose your life - What’s more important to you, your personal comfort and control or submission and obedience to God’s Word and His will for your life? Will you give it all up for Jesus? If you lose yourself for Christ you will find the real you - the one God designed before you were even born and you will be transformed day by day into the likeness of Jesus Christ and His glory.

Benediction

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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