ON THE ROAD TO THE CROSS - PART 4
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: COMMITTED TO THE CROSS
Main Scripture: MARK 8:31-38
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Pastor Ryan continued his series and shared the moment where Jesus spoke plainly about the suffering and death He would experience. In this portion of scripture, we see that Jesus’ claims take the disciples by surprise and Peter expresses how they all feel. This led Jesus to have to rebuke Peter for speaking and thinking the way Satan would. Jesus would follow his rebuke of Peter and the disciples with explaining the cost of being one of His disciples. To be a follower of Jesus we have to deny selfish ambitions and worldly securities. We have to be willing to suffer even if it means unto death for His name and the gospel’s sake. We have to take up our cross and follow Jesus, wherever He leads. There’s a battle for your soul. If we follow our selfish ways and this world we will lose our souls, but if we follow Jesus and let go of the world we gain eternal life. In the end, our loyalty and love for Jesus will be tested in this world. If we’re ashamed and embarrassed to be associated with Christ, then Jesus will be ashamed of us before His Father in heaven. Pastor Ryan encouraged us that Jesus was committed to the cross we could not bear or handle, so let’s be committed to carrying the one we have when we follow Jesus. The reward for following Jesus is greater than anything we can find in this world.
Notes:
We’re going to learn today that Jesus is not soft. He is gentle, compassionate, and loving, but He’s also committed to the will of God for His life, even if that commitment takes Him to the cross. Jesus was willing to face rejection, betrayal, suffering, and death to be obedient to God and to save us from our sin. Jesus was committed to the cross. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the way of being one of his disciples. Jesus is honest, He does not try to bribe us by offering an easy life. Jesus tells us in our scripture today to pick up our crosses, which means be willing to suffer and possibly die for His sake and the gospel’s sake. Jesus calls us to follow in His steps, accepting the will of God for each of us but receiving an eternal crown and inheritance that will be worth it all.
Teaching
Vs. 31-32
This is the first of three predictions in the book of Mark (9:30-32; 10:32-34). From this point on, Mark focuses on their journey to Jerusalem and Jesus approaching His death and resurrection.
Peter’s disagreement was born out of his ignorance of God’s will and his deep love for Jesus. Pastor and writer, Warren Weirsbe said, “One minute Peter was a ‘rock,’ and the next minute he was a stumbling block.”
This announcement stunned the disciples. Peter, being the vocal one, voiced displeasure for the whole group. “Steeped in Jewish traditional interpretation, the disciples were unable to understand how their Messiah could ever suffer and die.” Weirsbe, pg 85
Moments before Peter was led by God to confess his faith in Jesus (Mark 8:29) and the next minute he was thinking like an unbelieving man and being used by Satan.
Jesus’ prediction does not fit the image and perspective of the Messiah that the disciples would have adopted. Jesus was not being the expected messianic teacher who would expound and reinstitute the Torah in Jewish life. Rather, Jesus spoke in parables, He spoke of the kingdom of God on earth and His forgiveness of sinners. Jesus is not on a campaign as the Messianic leader who would exhibit dominion and power. Rather, Jesus speaks of rejection, suffering, and death. Jesus would summarize His remaining journey like this, “The Son of Man must suffer many things.”
In Peter’s mind, Jesus is the Messiah and Peter believes Jesus is in error to predict himself dying.
V. 33 Jesus rebukes Peter and the disciples
Jesus rebukes Peter but addresses Satan as the source of Peter’s thoughts. This was Satan’s philosophy, not God’s. This was reminiscent of Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4).
“Peter was an unwitting spokesman for Satan because he was setting his mind (phroneō means “to have a mental disposition for”) not on the things of God, His ways and purposes (cf. Isa. 55:8–9), but on the things of men, human values and viewpoints. The way of the Cross was God’s will and Jesus refused to abandon it. Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 140). Victor Books.
The disciples' view was Satan’s philosophy (glory without suffering) instead of God’s philosophy (suffering transformed into glory). The disciples didn’t know or understand the bigger picture for the death of Christ but we do from our perspective. The disciples' view was Rome and physical oppression was the problem. Conquer Rome and things would be set right. God’s view is humanity’s sin and the penalty of sin which is death is the problem and that’s what Jesus came to conquer.
Now, Jesus is going to be real with his disciples and the crowd about what it costs to follow Him. Would they be willing to follow Him even if it means suffering and their own cross?
V. 34
There is a price for true discipleship. He knew the crowds were following Him only because of the miracles, and that most people were unwilling to pay the price to become true disciples.
Jesus lays out three conditions if they want to be His followers: 1. Surrender their own ways, selfish ways. 2. Take up your cross or be willing to also suffer and die for God’s way. 3. They must follow Jesus faithfully, wherever He leads.
Deny selfish ways. We deny ourselves when we surrender ourselves to Christ and are determined to obey God’s will, daily. One must deny himself decisively by saying no to selfish interests and earthly securities. “It is the denial of “self,” turning away from the idolatry of self-centeredness and every attempt to orient one’s life by the dictates of self-interest.” Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 141). Victor Books.
Take up your cross. 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. Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 256). Eerdmans; Apollos.
V. 35
Here’s what Jesus is trying to say: If you try to hang on to your life, by refusing to follow Jesus and His way, you will lose your life, especially eternal life. But if you are willing to let go of doing life your way to follow Jesus, for his sake and the gospel's sake, you will save it and gain eternal life.
Vs. 36-37
In the process of focusing on what we can get and gain in this world, we end up losing the most valuable things, our souls and eternal relationship with God.
Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
Is anything worth more than your soul? That’s an easy no, but we seem to overlook or underappreciate them in the long run, don’t we?
V. 38
It wouldn’t take long for their loyalty to Christ and their association with Him to be tested. Peter would be tested the evening Jesus was betrayed.
Jesus calls his contemporaries a, “sinful and adulterous generation.” The world had turned its back on God. People are worshiping themselves and have no shame for the wicked things they do. Sounds like 2022! Jesus was loving, honest, healing, doing miracles, forgiving people of sins, and offering eternal life. If you’re ashamed of Him and His message because of what an adulterous, sinful society thinks then you’re not one of my disciples and you don’t truly know me! The result is Jesus will say, “I never knew you,” on the day it will matter for eternity! If you’re willing to care what they think over me then you don’t truly know me, you are not my disciples.
Why would we be ashamed of Jesus? Does the opinion of this wicked world, which has no shame for the garbage it does matter that much? Then we don’t belong to God, we belong to the world and will perish with it. We gain the world but lose our souls.
Matthew 10:28
In a nutshell, Jesus is saying in verses 35-38, choose to follow the ways of this world or choose to follow my ways, but you can’t have both. Follow the world and you will be ashamed of Jesus and the gospel. Choose to carry your cross and follow Jesus and you won’t be ashamed, because you’re done with sin, done with this world and you’re willing to suffer with Christ (1 Peter 4:1-2 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.)
Application
How do we apply this in our 21st century, American culture? Cross-bearing or commitment to Jesus even unto death is more of a possibility for the Christian church in Iran, Africa, India, and China. Missionaries and Christians are being persecuted, going through physical suffering and even death.
THE CROSS ROOM
The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. ''Lord, I can`t go on,'' he said. ''I have too heavy a cross to bear.'' The Lord replied, ''My son, if you can`t bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then open that other door and pick out any cross you wish.'' The man was filled with relief. ''Thank you, Lord,'' he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. ''I`d like that one, Lord,'' he whispered. And the Lord replied, ''My son, that is the cross you just brought in.'' -The Chicago Tribune, 1988
This scripture still applies to us, today. At first glance, we may miss the list of contrasts and choices that this scripture confronts us with, in verses 33-38. It starts with the contrast of the human view or a Godly view of things (33). The remaining contrasts are determined by the view you choose to live by, the human point of view or God’s point of view.
Our selfish ways or God’s ways? (34-35)
Followers of Jesus are devoted to God’s will versus their own.
Jesus isn’t saying we can’t build a life here on earth, He’s saying don’t worship self and don’t love this world. Instead, follow Jesus who loves and worships God.
Comfort and ease or Christ and a cross? (34-35)
We want Jesus without the cross. We want crowns without crosses. We can’t have salvation without repentance. We can’t follow Jesus and expect no trials, sacrifices, or trouble.
Follow Jesus no matter what may come.
Gain the world but lose your soul or let go of this world but gain eternal life? (36-37)
We can’t live and gain the things of this world and follow Jesus at the same time. Jesus is counter-culture to the ways of this world. We heard from God last week on that one.
Ashamed (embarrassed) of Jesus or unashamed to praise and glorify His name? (v. 38)
We choose to associate with Jesus even if it means we lose human relationships
Back to the question of applying to Christians in America… Well, we currently do not face the risk of being arrested or killed for our Christian faith. We can worship God, we can speak about our faith, but if you are keeping an eye on culture and trends in our society, silencing Christian values on social media and in public places has ramped up. While persecution isn’t violent, wickedness is increasing. The church represents the kingdom of God and light in this world. The church can’t afford to be asleep or so comfy in this world that we sit back and watch darkness take over. I’m concerned our American culture has created a new Christianity I call “Snuggy Christianity.” This type of Christianity says, “I’ll be a Christian until it requires me to give up my plans and my dreams. I’ll be a Christian until it requires me to sacrifice, fast, pray, evangelize, make disciples, give of my finances, serve, or speak the truth in love to those I love… If I have to do those things then I’m good with being one of those Christians who do the bare minimum and cheer from the sideline.” Well, that’s the problem, Jesus didn’t change the world with men and women who stayed on the sidelines. And if we stay on the sidelines and don’t contribute to expanding the Kingdom of God we don’t get the right to complain, worry or say, “someone needs to do something…”
Jesus calls His followers to the way of the cross
Jesus was committed to the cross for us, let’s be committed to carrying our cross for Him.
Discussion
What part of Mark 8:31-38 stuck out to you?
The human point of view is mentioned throughout verses 33-38, what are they?
What must a follower of Jesus be willing to do and go through?
What does it mean to be ashamed of Jesus and when can it be tested?
How do we plan to apply this message in our lives?
Let’s pray with faith for these people and situations…
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!