Following the Christ

Introduction:

Completing the first half of Mark.

Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Christ. It would appear that Peter has clarity on the Person of Jesus Christ.

The disciples are following the “anointed One”. This means that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic Promise. , - This is Who Peter expected Jesus to be.

Illustration: When a pitcher pitches a baseball, a good hitter can see the ball, almost as if in slow motion. As it gets closer, there is greater clarity.

Our current passage will give greater clarity to the work of the anointed One. So, while Peter was clear on Who Jesus is, He was not clear on what Jesus had to accomplish, and in order to be a follower of Jesus, we must not only know Him, but we must be clear about His work, especially, if we are to follow suit. As a follower, you will not merely live with the knowledge of who Jesus is; but you will function how He functions.

Following Christ requires that we know His Person & His Purpose.

Following Christ requires that we know His Person & His Purpose.

Following Christ requires that we know His dignity & His duty.

Following Christ requires that we know His authority & His activity.

Proposition:

If you will be a follower of Christ, then you must know Who He is & what He came to do, and how he came to do it.

(1) The Christ we are following is the Son of Man (v. 31)

“he began to teach” - This is the first of three mentions, in Mark, of the sufferings. -

“the Son of Man” - provides insight to the expectation of this figure. He was coming to establish an everlasting kingdom with authority over all.

Sanhedrin - elders, chief priests, scribes - He will be rejected by what is perceived as man’s best “foot forward”

Statement: The Son of Man will claim authority through death not by avoiding death.

(2) The Conflict in following the Christ (v. 32-33)

“And he spake that saying openly” [boldly] This tells you something of our Savior.

Peter “rebuke”(s) Jesus. This is the same word that is used when Jesus rebukes the demons to come out of the possessed man.

Jesus gives a stern rebuke of Peter in front of the disciples.

Statement: The mind of man is Satanically opposed to the sovereign oversight of God.

It is here that the nature of man is revealed. Once again we are reminded that God’s ways are not our ways. Who really does Peter think that He is to rebuke Jesus as if Jesus had a demonic spirit. Peter, in these moments, is acting no differently than the Pharisees earlier had acted.

Our sinful, devilish heart is prone to a pride that raises its’ fist against the very will of God.

This very act exposes why Jesus must suffer because it reveals the sinful tendency of our hearts.

The mind of man is adversarial against the mind of God.

(3) The Cost in following the Christ (v. 34-37)

The people & disciples are now addressed. This confirms that following Christ is not merely a step after someone gets saved but rather that getting saved is the beginning of a lifelong following of Christ.

Following Christ is a path of self-denial: a denial of selfish ambition. It is the putting of death to the idol of “me.”

Following Christ is a path of cross-bearing:

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Messiahship and Discipleship (8:31–9:1)

Modern culture is exposed to the symbol of the cross primarily in jewelry or figures of speech (e.g., “bearing a cross” as putting up with an inconvenience or hardship). How vastly different was the symbol of the cross in the first century! An image of extreme repugnance, the cross was an instrument of cruelty, pain, dehumanization, and shame. The cross symbolized hated Roman oppression and was reserved for the lowest social classes. It was the most visible and omnipresent aspect of Rome’s terror apparatus, designed especially to punish criminals and quash slave rebellions. In 71 B.C. the Roman general Crassus defeated the slave-rebel Spartacus and crucified him and six thousand of his followers on the Appian Way between Rome and Capua.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark Messiahship and Discipleship (8:31–9:1)

The image of the cross signifies a total claim on the disciple’s allegiance and the total relinquishment of his resources to Jesus (10:17–31). In Mark’s day that was not merely a theoretical truth, for the Gospel of Mark was probably written in Rome near the time of Nero’s crucifixion of Christians. Jesus’ call to self-denial and suffering by the use of this image would remind Mark’s community that their adversity under Nero was not a sign of God’s abandonment but rather of their identification with and faithfulness to the way of Jesus himself.

The statement of Paradox is then given. psyche

Illustration:

We had to be at Daimler Chrystler in Detroit by the following morning. We had the last flight out of Dayton that evening when a snow storm came and prevented us from leaving. Fortunately, there were a few other options: rent a car, drive and arrive around 1:00 AM or take the first flight the next morning. There are times when alternate routes are available, but why did Jesus have to go this route, and why did he have to establish this as a pattern for his followers? (v. 35 - 37 explain).

Why no other way?

Why not just use your power to submit all rebels? Jesus has clearly shown himself powerful enough? He could immediately toss Satan into the Lake of Fire, send all demons there right now. Why doesn’t he just do that?

Answer: Jesus gives insight to the value of the soul. Sin must be paid for. Men are sinners. If Jesus were to simply take the route just outlined, then He would have to and would be just in sending all souls to Hell as eternal punishment for their sinfulness - the wrath of God must be satisfied, and this would be the only way. This is a concern of God’s.

Someone must suffer in the place of man. This is the Christ. In so doing, He then can Be the way into the kingdom of God for mankind. This would require a complete self-denial and acceptance Christ. There is not “gospel” without this plan.

Statement: The cost of following Christ seems excessive until you consider the cost of a soul in light of eternity.

The cross-bearing life is the normal Christian life.

(4) The Condemnation for not following the Christ (v. 38)

adulterous & sinful is an allusion to the motif that Jehovah used for ethnic/national Israel in the Old Testament.

Adultery - there is no room for two.

Jesus is coming again with a clearly manifested glory and with angels - this is a pointing to judgment -

Matthew 25:31–32 KJV 1900

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Statement: Refusing to follow Christ now means that he will refuse to allow you to follow him then (@ his return).

Applications:

Recap:

The Christ we are following is the Son of Man

The Conflict in Following Christ (is our sinful heart)

The Cost in following Christ

The Condemnation in NOT following Christ

(1) Jesus Christ fulfilled His purpose, and He has been highly exalted. He is the only One who can conquer the rebellious human sinner and make him one of His own.

(2) You will either yield to Him now or you will yield to Him then; but only your response to Jesus now will determine whether you save your life (soul) or lose it. Ask the Lord to help you see Jesus for who He is.

(3) Stop separating between “being saved” and the “normal Christian life.” If you are truly born again, there is no other way to follow Jesus Christ.

(4) Christian, when is the last time you denied yourself something so that the co-worker at work’s soul could be reached?

(5) Christian, when’s the last time you savored the things of God so much that you became disgusted with your own selfishness and repented of it?

(6) Christian single, have you considered leaving your family, friends, job, and going?

(7) Christian, today many of you will spend upwards of $30.00 or more on a Sunday meal (whether out or at home), have you considered sacrificially giving for missions?

(8) Has your house become a shrine rather than a means of love?

(9) The social media platform is risky. What will others think if I use it for exalting Jesus rather than myself? You can either use it as a place to trample under foot the blood of Jesus or to self-deny and follow Christ.

Illustration:

We are drawn to stories where heroes sacrifice themselves for others. The plot lines of entertainment are always more engaging when they are like this. Whether you are hearing the wonderful, true story of George Burgraff or watching a fictional account of the Avengers, there is something heart wrenching about those who deny themselves and sacrifice.

No greater true account has ever taken place that highlighted the value of God’s glory and the value of the human soul than when the Creator died for man the creatures sin.

The Christ we are following is the Son of Man

The Conflict in Following Christ (is our sinful heart)

The Cost in following Christ

The Condemnation in NOT following Christ

Hebrews 13:12–13 KJV 1900

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.