Finding Life's Center

“Building Our Lives on Bedrock” #7 August 18, 2019 GWB “Finding Life’s Center” - Mark 8:27-38 - Given all the trials and troubles of life that come to us, we need a solid foundation for our lives, so we can persevere. Some may think the Christian life is like sitting in front of a TV with the remote. We flip channels until we find what we like. Some bring a similar “consumer mentality” to Christianity: “Christ is in my life to give me what I want; if I don’t like what he offers me right now, I'll try something else. I’ll just flip the channel.” But we must never try to turn God into a means of self-gratification. In the passage before us, Jesus teaches us about the meaning of discipleship. Jesus is with his disciples in the region near Caesarea Philippi, to the north of Galilee. He was taking them out of Galilee, away from the crowds for a while, to take a rest (6:31) and to have time to teach them (9:31). Jesus has questions for them—and for us. I. Who do you say I am? Mark 8:27-30 1. What do the people think of me (v. 27)? a. People thought highly of Jesus, estimating him to be John the Baptist returned, or Elijah (cf. Mal. 4:5-6)—or one of the other prophets (27). b. Today, people still think highly of him: he was “a great teacher,” or a “prophet predicting the end,” or a “man of compassionate concern.” They think highly of him—but not highly enough. 2. Jesus does not allow it to remain impersonal; he presses home the more personal question: “Who do you say I am?” a. Peter's answer is electrifying: “You are the Messiah!” In all his preaching and teaching, Jesus had never used the term. Now Peter confessed his confidence that Jesus was not a preparatory prophet but the very fulfillment of Israel’s hope, the Messiah himself. b. This was a great step of faith. Peter was sure the Messiah was going to sweep the Gentiles out of Israel in a tide of blood—and it was not clear how Jesus was going to do this. Still, Peter believed that Jesus was the Messiah. (And Peter was speaking for all the disciples.) II. Do you understand my mission? Mark 8:31-33 1. The disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but they did not understand his mission. That’s why Jesus says, “Don’t tell anyone!” (v. 30). a. Now that the disciples had realized that Jesus was the Messiah, he had to explain what it meant—what the mission of Messiah was. b. Jesus had not used the word for this very reason. The Jews, with their expectation of a military conqueror, had a completely wrong expectation. 2. Note that ‘then’ (v. 31) — (and only then), did Jesus begin explaining his mission as Messiah. The Messiah is “the Son of Man” of Daniel and the “suffering servant” of Isaiah in one person. (cf. Dan. 7:13-14; Isa. 50, 53). The Messiah must suffer (v. 31; cf. 9:12); it is a matter of divine necessity. 3. Peter, beside himself, began to correct Jesus! (32b). Peter was utterly unable to imagine the words “Messiah” and “suffering” in the same sentence. a. In a strong rebuke, Jesus addressed Satan whose counsel Peter is expressing (33). b. This gives us pause. A true disciple may become an unwitting agent of Satan and stand in opposition to God’s purpose! III. Will you follow me? Mark 8:34-9:1 1. Calling the crowd together, Jesus explains the meaning of discipleship. To be Jesus' disciple, one must: (1) deny himself, (2) take up his cross-piece, and (3) follow Christ in the path of obedience to the Father (v. 34). a. “Self-denial” is dethroning the self — setting aside the self-centeredness, the selfish revolt that characterizes man and woman in disobedience to God. b. “Taking up the cross” refers to the “death march” of a condemned criminal carrying his cross to the place of execution. For Jesus, this meant radical obedience to God—even to the death. It means precisely the same for us. 2. “Follow me” means to walk with Christ in the path of complete obedience no matter where it may lead. Simply put, Jesus demands everything! 3. Jesus gives two reasons for giving him absolute, unquestioning allegiance: a. It is a matter of value: to save one's life (by denying Christ) is to trifle it away; to lose one's life (in following Christ) will gain eternal life. What good is it to gain the world and to lose one’s soul? (vv. 35-36). b. It is a matter of the judgment: imagine the shame, at the final judgment, of denying Christ (v. 38). Ponder the joy, at the judgment, of Jesus’ approval on that day! Responding to God 1. Note: the word ‘must’ is used both of Jesus (v. 31) “the Son of Man must suffer” — and his disciples: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself” (v. 34). As Jesus could not have been the Messiah without suffering, so we cannot be his disciples without sacrifice. 2. And so we follow Christ, set aside our idols, self-worship and selfish goals. In the big decisions of life and the small, we follow him even to the death, knowing that joy and glory will follow! “Building Our Lives on Bedrock” #7 August 18, 2019 GWB