Mark 8.31-9.1 A Planned Rejection

We begin with a transition of the attention of Jesus. Just prior to our passage we have a conversation with Peter. The question of the Identity of Jesus in the lives of people and then in the eyes of Peter. V. 30 has the command of “not telling anyone” of the Messiah identity of Jesus.

Then Jesus turns to group of Disciples for a lesson. A lesson that is a difficult one to swallow. REJECTION. The rejection of Jesus as a prophet, teacher, Messiah and Their Leader. V. 32— and he said this plainly.

Rejection is Emotional-

the information is difficult to accept. Peter, who has just acknowledge Christ as Messiah, now interjects his displeasure with the plan.

Rejection is Personal- Peter challenges the plan. Such is because humanly, we “see through a glass dimly”.

Humanness runs to the front of our living when we sense rejection and our expectations are shattered.

Humanness whats to make a correction, this can’t be so! Can Jesus be our Messiah, even when the plan is counter to our senses?

Rejection fueled by human desires is typically an expression of a satanic/fallen intention. (Self-Preservation)

Mark: An Introduction and Commentary i. Peter’s Confession: The First Passion-Prediction (8:27–33)

The natural mind never objects to the concept of a Messiah, provided that he is to be a Messiah who commends himself to the natural mind.

Jesus, speaking to Peter yet into the group of the disciples, gives a very stern rebuking of satan.

How we handle the challenges of unmet expectations will be like “yeast” that works its way into all of the dough.

The rebuking of Peter is to preserve the man and to halt the influence of the enemy within the group. Though Jesus is patient with the disciples, this is one item & time He would not tolerate any influence of the enemy.

The rebuke instructs Peter to an action… being active— “set your mind of the things of God, not on the things of man”.

This may be one of the most strenuous expressions of the follower of Jesus while still in this human condition. The choosing of where the mind is to entertain thoughts that lead to actions. Paul uses the same words in Philip. 2.5 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mark: An Introduction and Commentary ii. The Cost of Discipleship (8:34–38)

Now we see why it was so essential that Peter should grasp the conditions of Messiahship for Jesus: otherwise, Peter could not grasp the conditions of discipleship for himself.

a break point of the sermon.

The Principle is for everyone who would be a disciple of Jesus.

Mark: An Introduction and Commentary ii. The Cost of Discipleship (8:34–38)

So the Lord warns all the crowd, not just his professed disciples, that to follow him means to deny all natural inclinations7 and to ‘shoulder one’s stake’. ‘Stake’ in modern English preserves the association of shameful death better than cross does. Compare 10:39 for the equally solemn words of Jesus to James and John as to the cost of discipleship. The thought is plain to every child playing the game of ‘follow my leader’, in which there is only one rule, that no follower shirks going to any place where the leader has first gone. Ultimately, to the Christian, this following of Jesus becomes the hope of heaven, since our leader has already gone there (Heb. 6:19–20): but first comes the cross.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

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.

Denying self, begins with a Determined Mind.

the Counter-intuitive principles… losing you gain, The unseen Soul is of Higher Value than the visible world,

The Determined Mind, set on seeking the Kingdom are those who will see the KoG before death.

“one cannot die who has declared himself dead”.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), p. Php 2:4–11