Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Have you ever faced a choice of giving up something in order to get something better?

Maybe it was giving up lots of your free time and putting in hard physical effort in order to become successful in a sport.

Maybe it was taking on student loans and spending hours of studying to complete a degree for a better job.

Maybe it was laying out your own money for a new business idea that just might become a great success.

Sometimes we think of these things in terms of risk versus reward - where you make an educated choice to risk something for a greater return or profit.

Other times it’s a quick gut decision based on how much you value the thing you are willing to risk.

Like a friendship or a job you don’t want to lose.

You have those people you would drop anything for right?

This morning, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus will really shake up his followers with a call to real discipleship that has tremendous costs or risk.

He initially called the the twelve men to follow him and learn from him.

Now Jesus raises the stakes and tells them that following Him will become much more serious and dangerous.

Were they willing to risk everything?

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man of decisive action with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message.

Mark divides Jesus’ life into two parts: his identity as Messiah and King over all things in the first 8 chapters (the crown) and then in the last 8 chapters we see Him fulfilling His life’s purpose in suffering and dying on the cross.

This morning as we conclude chapter 8, we start the second half of the Gospel, where Jesus begins moving towards Jerusalem to fulfill His life’s purpose in suffering and dying on the cross.

PRAY

READ Mark 8:27-38

Who am I?

vv 28-30

As Jesus is about to reveal his true mission to his disciples, he begins, as usual with some questions to see where they are in their understanding.

If you recall from two weeks ago, the disciples were still struggling to understand that Jesus could provide anything they needed (like bread) and could heal any illness.

in 8:21 Jesus asked Do you not yet understand?

So now as and the twelve are on their way toward Caesarea Philippi - this is at the foot of Mt.

Hermon - the highest mountain in Israel, Jesus asks “Who do people say I am?” Several answers include John the Baptist (back from the dead), Elijah, Jeremiah (in Matt 16) or one of the other prophets.

These were all men who spoke from God.

Then Jesus asks “But who do you say I am?” Peter, often the first to talk, said, “You are the Christ.”

The “Christ” is Greek for the Messiah in Hebrew.

It means “the Anointed One” - someone consecrated or set apart by God for a particular task like David was anointed as king.

The Jews heard from the prophets about the Messiah who would come to save Israel and destroy her enemies.

Matthew 16 includes more of Peter’s statement “you are the Son of the Living God.”

And Jesus responds saying Peter, you did not figure this out on your own, God told you.

Peter’s confession of faith is the first time in Mark anyone said this about Jesus.

SIDE NOTE: The word confession means “to say the same thing; to agree; or to admit something.

We often use it today to only mean “I admit I did something wrong” but it can also be used in a positive way like a statement of faith or belief.

Jesus said, I will build my church on this foundation - not Peter as the first Pope, but this profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.

All through the first half of Mark’s gospel, we have not heard the word “Christ” spoken by anyone.

Only God the Father at his baptism, and the demons have called Jesus the Son of God.

But all through the past eight chapters we have seen and heard clear evidence of Jesus acting and saying all the things the OT prophets said would be true of the Messiah.

Preaching repentance, healing the blind, deaf and lame, caring for his wandering sheep, authority over nature, and more.

David Garland, who wrote one of my commentaries said “Peter’s confession is at the very center of the Gospel.

It serves as a hinge between the first half, where Jesus’ power is so prominent, and the second half, where his weakness becomes predominant.”

By confirming that Peter’s answer came from God, Jesus is saying “Yes, that is right, I am the Messiah” but don’t tell anyone.

Jesus has asked people to hide his miracles and now his identity.

It is not because it isn’t true, but he knows what will happen when people try to force him to be their king.

They expect the Messiah to be a conquering king, so Jesus began to teach them what he must do.

What I must do

vv 31-33

There are four things here that did not fit the concept of the Messiah as conquering king.

Jesus didn’t say these things would happen to him.

He said the Son of Man must… He was in full control.

This was God’s redemption plan.

And Jesus laid this out very clearly or plainly as verse 32 says.

There were no parables or hidden meanings.

He meant exactly what he said.

I must suffer many things

I must be rejected by elders, chief priests, and scribes

I must be killed

I must rise from dead after three day

Peter just couldn’t keep quiet.

And so he pulls Jesus to the side and starts rebuking him.

That means correcting like scolding.

I can imagine Peter saying, Jesus, do you realize what you just said?

That’s not how the Messiah, the Christ, will be treated.

His people will love him.

They will make him King.

Everything is going so well.

You can’t go around saying things like this.

We had thousands of people coming out to hear you teaching.

You’re going to ruin everything!

Jesus turns, looks at the rest of disciples, as if to say, is this what you all think?

And then he rebuked or corrected Peter right back.

But this is super harsh!

Jesus said to Peter, Get behind me Satan!”

Wait?

Peter who just called Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God? How can he be Satan?

What has he done wrong?

Just as God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah, now Satan has planted the seed of doubting Jesus’ word in Peter.

Just like he did in the Garden with Eve.

Just like he did when he tempted Jesus to skip the whole messiah plan and simply bow to him.

Satan is the original author of lies.

He always makes disobeying God look good.

But he is pure poison!

Jesus will not let Satan win Peter’s heart or let himself be tempted to skip the awful suffering and dying part of God’s plan.

In Jesus’ weakness - dying on the cross, God’s power would be strongest in destroying the power of sin, death and the grave.

Jesus explains to Peter “Your mind is set on things of man - human, temporary, fleeting when they should be set on things of God.

I’ve been telling you about the kingdom of God and how it is different and so far superior to any kingdom of earth.

We are doing this God’s way, not man’s way.

I have to give up my life.

Peter, I won’t let you try to stop God’s plan.

How could Peter go from such a glorious high to such a dismal low?

Not to excuse him, but the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7 about this spiritual battle waging war in us.

v. 18 I desire to do what is right, but don’t have the ability to do it.

v. 24 wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! in the next chapter, Roman 9:6-7 we see “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, it does not submit to God.

Peter, set your mind on the things of God!

Do you struggle with this like I do?

I usually know the right thing to do, but the wrong thing looks so good - it’s easier, it’s more fun, it appears to cost less, everyone else seems to be enjoying it too.