Taking a Stand

Pray

Introduction

If you’ve turned on and tuned into the local TV or radio in the last couple of weeks you’ll be well aware that there has been a lot on the news recently about the Presbyterian Church’s stance on homosexuality.

And the headlines are that PCI have this ‘new policy' - the truth is this is not a new policy at all - this has always been the stance of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and it is the stance of the Baptist church, the Brethren Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Free Presbyterian Church and many more…and it was the stance of Paul right at the start of the early church and we see that in his letters to the churches in the New Testament.

So this isn’t a new thing.

BUT

What IS new is that presbyterians across the country are being called to take a stand on this. Some Presbyterians are suffering abuse, ridicule because of their stance. Now I would hardly call it persecution, but some people are up against it because of this.

But at the same time, there ARE others who are offering some sort of ‘compromise’ on what the bible says on homosexuality. Now these people aren’t being ridiculed or persecuted - instead they are getting praised by the pubic and the secular media.

And what these recent events have shown us is that the time WILL come when Christians will have to take a stand on what the bible says, and as a result there may be ridicule and abuse and maybe even persecution.

Once again - this isn’t a new thing either…it’s going on across the world - it’s just new to this country in this time.

So Christians have a choice - take a stand for what the Bible says in the face of persecution, or try to find a way to accept popular culture and have everyone love you even if it contradicts the teaching of God.

You either take a stand on what the bible says and face the consequences or you compromise on what the bible says and everyone loves you.

So what would you rather have? Persecution, abuse, rejection and suffering? or prise and love from everyone - the WORLD loving you?

I know what I’d rather have - I’d rather have the world loving me. Who would actually WANT persecution?

But that’s only half of the choice - because standing up for Jesus and following him means eternal life. Standing up for the world and following the world means eternal death.

And so the choice is this...

Short term gain for eternal pain

or

Short term pain for eternal gain

And, as we’ll see from our text this morning, following Jesus means sacrificing what we might WANT and taking a path that leads to persecution - following Jesus means denying yourself - denying what YOU want and doing what Jesus wants - following Jesus means taking up your cross - suffering shame and ridicule and even death for his sake…cos that’s what the cross meant.

BUT WHO WOULD SIGN UP TO THAT? I mean it’s not a great catchline for the church is it?

Follow Jesus and you will suffer....but don’t forget that suffering is temporary - the paradise that comes after is eternal.

So what will it profit you if you gain the love of the world but forfeit your soul?

Let’s look at our passage in the light of what’s been going on recently in PCI...

Pause

Right from the start of Mark, there’s been a build up regarding Jesus’ identity. Who is he? Is he a prophet, is he Elijah back from the dead? Who is this guy?

And Mark gives glimpses of who Jesus is - he’s a miracle worker. He has authority over the demons and over nature. He can calm storms, he can raise the dead...

[Jesus is revealed in stages…like the blind man’s sight]

And so if you think of people’s vision of Jesus as being blurred at the start of Mark, their vision becomes more in focus as you move through the gospel.

And Peter, has figured it out in our passage today. Jesus asks, who do others say I am? - and the ‘others’ have blurred vision cos they say Jesus is John the baptist or Elijah, or some prophet.

But not Peter - Peter says, ‘You’re the Christ’.

And don’t forget ‘Christ’ means Messiah - which means anointed. ‘Jesus, I know who you are…You’re the anointed one of Israel - the one to establish David’s throne, deliver us from the Romans and bring peace to the world - that’s who YOU are.’

Pause

But Peter’s vision was also not fully in focus. Because to Peter, being the Christ or being the Messiah meant peace on earth, Jesus reigning - let the good times roll.

But peace on earth and God’s kingdom being established would not come the way Peter expects it to come.

Peace on earth would come at a cost to Jesus. It would mean suffering abuse and humiliation, it would mean being despised and rejected and it would mean dying in the most horrific way - on a cross. That’s certainly NOT what Peter thought the Messiah would do.

And in fact, for Peter, his vision came into focus in stages - because it wasn’t until Acts 4, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, that Peter fully gets it.

Cos in Acts 4 Peter stands up and says...

Acts 4:10–12 NIV

then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

In Acts 4, Peter could see clearly exactly who Jesus was and exactly what it meant to follow Jesus - because Peter ended up being crucified himself - upside down, and in Acts 4 you can see he was fully prepared to do it.

WHY?

Because he could see what following Jesus meant, that while it is costly and difficult and could lead to death…ultimately it means eternal life and being rewarded for the stand taken for the gospel.

Do you see the relevance of the blind man’s visions coming back in stages - “I’m blind…I can kinda see…NOW I can see.”

Peter, at the start of Mark’s gospel, was blind as to who Jesus is, then he starts to see a little - ‘you’re the Christ’ - but he’s not seeing fully because HE THINKS the Christ should be something else and so his vision is blurred…but after Pentecost, Peter’s eyes are opened and he knows who Christ is and he KNOWS the choice he has to make.

Short term gain for eternal pain

or

Short term pain for eternal gain

Pause

Question...Is OUR vision of Jesus blurred?

Can we see clearly what Jesus is asking us to do? He’s asking us to FOLLOW HIM - to the cross. He’s asking us to give up our lives - to deny ourselves for Jesus - to stand up for HIM and live for HIM and take a stand for what is RIGHT even if it means persecution or abuse and even if it means death.

Pause

Which is why Jesus asks the question...

Mark 8:35–36 ESV

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

What profit is there FOR US then, if we gain the whole world, but lose our soul? What profit is there for us if we don’t take a stand for what it says in the bible against sin - not just homosexuality, but ALL sin. What profit is there if we chicken out and try to please the world - gain the acceptance of the world, avoid ridicule, avoid persecution and go against the teaching of Jesus?

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world - gains the acceptance of the world, avoids persecution, but forfeits his soul as a result?

Pause

Now, let’s face it, we’re quite comfortable in the west. This is hardly persecution... but what if things change? Can you take up your cross or are you ashamed to say you’re a follower of Jesus in the world we live in? And with all eyes on us in the light of the recent PCI decision - are you prepared to take a stand for Jesus or are you ashamed to be called a follower of Jesus?

Cos if anyone is ashamed to be a follower of Jesus, then...and I say this with reverence...God help you. Cos Jesus said...

Mark 8:38 ESV

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.”

Can you imagine Jesus saying to you, “Did you REALLY follow me on Earth? Did you stand up for me? Did you stand up for my teaching? Did you stand up for what it says in the bible? Were you not ashamed to be called a Christian? When things got a bit heated were you not ashamed of me? Where you not ashamed of what the bible says?

Can you imagine God himself saying, “You know what... I’m ashamed of you!”

Doesn’t bare thinking about. IF you’re ashamed of the king don’t expect a place of honour when the he comes.

Pause

So, here’s the question for us...

Can you see clearly what Jesus is asking us to do or is your vision blurred? He’s asking us to follow him - which means to do what he did, live as HE lived, love as HE loved and taking a stand for what is RIGHT. And Jesus went to the cross, and he’s asking us to follow him to the cross - to take up OUR crosses too. Is that something you’re prepared to do?

Once again - who would sign up to that?

But once again, what does it profit a man if he decides not to bother taking up his cross and doesn’t follow Christ? What does it profit a man if he joins in with the WORLD in this life, but spends eternity in hell suffering for it?

Is it worth it?

Or are you prepared to suffer for Jesus - to take a stand for what is RIGHT, to take a stand for what the BIBLE SAYS and suffer for it? Cos what does it profit a man if he loses his life for the sake of Christ, but spends eternity being rewarded in paradise for it? That’s some profit...

And in Northern Ireland no one’s going to be beheaded for following Christ - but can you take a bit of abuse? Can you take ridicule for what you believe? Are you prepared to be fired for taking a stand for Jesus if you have to?

Cos times are changing… what we’re seeing right now is only the start. It WILL get worse, but this is nothing compared to what other Christians are facing across the world. But for us, are we willing to stand up - to take a stand in the face of persecution and abuse and even SHAME for following Christ or are we ashamed of Jesus and his words?

Simple choice...

Short term gain for eternal pain

or

Short term pain for eternal gain

Pause

But how do we do make a stand for Jesus in the face of abuse and persecution? Cos I don’t want to be persecuted! I don’t want to be abused. I don’t want to be ridiculed. Let’s face it - WHO DOES?

First of all the reason we would even WANT to do suffer this is because we realise the value of the choice we make - that the short term pain and suffering that we experience here on earth for following Jesus equals eternal gain. That’s the first reason.

But secondly, to help us make our stand for the gospel, look at these verses from Hebrews 12...

Hebrews 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We need to FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS - the author, the pioneer, of our faith. Jesus endured the cross because of THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM!

Jesus knew that pain for him would mean gain for us - and he rejoiced in that.

And Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith… and here’s the amazing thing about that word, ‘pioneer’. It’s the Greek word archegos. And it means, pioneer, author, starter, the one who has gone before…but more than that. Listen to this from one commentator...

Ships in the first century had an archegos on board. The archegos was the man who could swim the strongest. When the ship would approach land, sometimes the wind and the waves would prevent the ship from actually reaching shore. In those instances, the archegos was called upon to save the day and get the passengers safely off the ship.

This man would take a long rope and tie one end to the ship and the other to his waist. He would dive into the billowing sea and fight through the wind and waves to reach the shore. Once ashore, he would take that rope and tie it to an immovable rock or a sturdy tree to make a way for the passengers to safely cross. Passengers would then follow the rope, through the waves, to dry land. And they could do that because the archegos had gone before.

You see, that’s how we do this…THAT’S how we stand up for Jesus in the face of adversity. THAT’S how we take up our cross and follow Jesus - because Jesus is our archegos - HE is the one who went before us. He’s the one who went to the cross and endured the suffering. And he’s calling us to do the same for him - to endure abuse, persecution for his sake and that won’t be easy, but he is the archegos - he is the one who has gone before…he’s the one who has dived into the waves and come out the other end, and because he’s done that he’s standing on the short shouting - ‘YOU CAN DO IT TOO! I’ve paved the way - so FOLLOW ME.’

Fix your eyes on Jesus, take up your cross and follow him.

Short term gain for eternal pain.

or

Short term pain for eternal gain.

Your choice.

Let’s pray.