Following Jesus

Introduction

Boromir wanted to take the ring from Frodo because he misunderstood what must happen to bring salvation to middle earth.

Like Boromir who misunderstood the ring, we can misunderstand who Jesus is and why he came to this earth.

We can try follow Jesus for our selfish gain instead of following him for the glory of his name.

We constantly struggle with this because we don’t want to die to ourselves.

We want to have a fulfilled and enjoyable life, but instead of looking to Jesus, we look to ourselves.

Yet, Jesus will teach us tonight in Mark 8 that true life is only found through death.

Key Point: Following Jesus requires death, but it leads to abundant life.

In chapters 1-8, Jesus has shown us his power as the Son of God. In chapters 11-16, he will become king through his service and suffering as the Son of Man.

In between these two sections in Chapters 8-10, Jesus begins his path to his death in Jerusalem.

Along the way to Jerusalem, he reveals to his disciples who he is, what he came to do, and what it means to follow him.

In Mark 8-10, there are three sections of Jesus’s declaration of his mission and purpose to die for the sins of many.

Each time, it is followed by a misunderstanding of Jesus’s mission by the disciples and then a teaching from Jesus on what it means to follow him.

Tonight, Jesus teaches us three things that are required to follow him. . .

1. Following Jesus Requires a Right Confession (v. 27-30)

Mark 8:27–30 “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.”

Caesarea Philippi was a pagan hellenistic city where the god of Pan was worshipped throughout the city.

Our Confession cannot come from Other People.

Amidst the god of Pan, Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is

John the Baptist-Herod Antipas.

Elijah-from Malachi 4:5.

One of the prophets- from Deuteronomy 18:15 (one will come like Moses).

Like the crowds, many people have different opinions and views of Jesus.

Muslims say he is God’s prophet and Messiah, but not divine.

Jehovah’s witnesses say he is the Son of God, but not divine.

Mormons say he is one of the gods, but not The only God.

Many Americans say Jesus was a good person and wise religious teacher, but not divine.

Many American Christians understand Jesus this way:

“Jesus loves me the way that I am and he does not want me to change my lifestyle. He is ok with materialism and wants me to fulfill my desires. He would never call me to give up my possessions and comforts. Jesus would never call me to do anything that would put my life in danger. . . he wants me to be happy and successful.”

Our Confession must be Personal

“But who do you say that I am?”

Peter, representing the disciples, makes the right confession of Jesus.

Jesus is “the Christ.”

Christ means the “anointed one.”

In the OT, three people were anointed: Prophets, Priests, and Kings.

Jesus is the fulfillment of these three roles and the anointed one of God (Psalm 2).

As the Messianic Son of Man, Jesus is divine.

To follow Jesus, we must know who we are following. We must have a right confession.

The most important questions everyone of us must answer is who is Jesus?

The question we often are asked is “do we believe in Jesus?” Instead, the question we should answer is: “Who is the Jesus you believe in?”

What is your view of Jesus?

The right confession:

Romans 10:9 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

2. Following Jesus Requires a God-Centered Commitment (v. 31-33)

Mark 8:31–33 “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.”

As the Messianic Son of Man, Jesus is divine, but he is also destined to suffer (Isaiah 53:1-12).

Notice the “must” in verse 31.

Peter equivocates and understands the title “Messiah” differently from how Jesus defines it.

Peter had the right confession, but his understanding of Jesus’s mission was flawed.

Why would Peter rebuke Jesus?

Peter only saw Jesus as the royal and political Messiah to come and deliver the Jews from Roman oppression.

Also, as a follower and disciple of Jesus, Peter could have rejected Jesus’ suffering and death because it would imply that he would have to suffer and die too if he continued to follow Jesus.

Peter was not alone in his rebuke, but again, was the spokesperson for the other disciples.

“Get behind me Satan!”

Peter had the thoughts of Satan in wanting to stop him from laying down his life for the sins of many.

Peter’s commitment was man-centered, not God-centered.

His thoughts were fixed on the things of man, not on the things of God.

Romans 8:5 “5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

Philippians 3:19 “19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

He was thinking in terms of the Kingdom of Peter, not of the Kingdom of God.

Application

In what ways do we want Jesus to fit our agenda?

Jesus, you can’t expect me to break up with so and so. . .

Jesus you can’t expect me to tell my friend about you. . .

Jesus, you can’t expect me to call my friend out on her sin. . .

Jesus, you can’t expect me to make time to spend with you. . .

Do we have a God-centered commitment to Jesus. . . or a man-centered one?

Colossians 3:2 “2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

3. Following Jesus Requires a Cross Shaped Life (v. 34-38)

Mark 8:34–38 “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.”

A Cross Shaped Life Consists of Self-Denial and Suffering

“Deny yourself”

Give up your way of life, your wants, plans, goals, and dreams.

We must die to ourselves.

We must let go of our sin.

If we try and save our life, we will lose it.

By losing ourselves, we must be unashamed of Jesus and the gospel message.

When Jesus returns in glory, will he be ashamed of us?

Are we unwilling to acknowledge him before our friends and family?

This is more than saying “I am a Christian,” but this is associating your entire life and way of being with Jesus and professing his name and the gospel message to others.

“Take up your cross and follow me.”

What is the cross?

Jesus clarifies that if we are to follow him, we must prepare for immense suffering, labor, persecution, ridicule, rejection and death.

Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Acts 20:24 “24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

We will all stand before Jesus and give an account of our lives. . .

Matthew 16:27 “27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

What will Jesus say to us on that day?

So, following Jesus requires a right confession, God-Centered Commitment, and Cross-Shaped Life. . .

If this is the case, why would we want to follow Jesus?

Response

A Cross-Shaped life results in salvation. . . Following Jesus brings Abundant life. . . both now and for eternity.

What do you want? Do you want abundant life? . . . then you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.

“But that’s too difficult!”

Following Jesus is hard but Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

David Platt said, “The burden is light for you when you realize how lovely Jesus is and how much he loves you.”

Explain how much God loves us in Christ. . . the Gospel!

1 John 5:3 “3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”