Mark 8:31-38
Peter’s day had started out rather good. He, the other disciples, and Jesus were out together, and Jesus asked them all who people thought He was, and also who they thought He was. Several of the disciples said that He was this or that prophet, but it was Peter who had spoken up and said that he believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 8:27-29; Matthew 16:13-16). Jesus commended Peter, saying the Father had revealed this (Matthew 16:17). That day had started out good, but now Jesus was talking about dying, and when Peter spoke up against this supposed negative thinking and talking, his day took a sudden, unpleasant turn. Let’s look at this passage from Mark’s Gospel together.
Jesus is with His 12 apostles, and tells them, as He does several times throughout His ministry, that He will be taken by the religious leaders, killed, and then rise again the third day (vs. 31). Jesus always mentioned the resurrection when He spoke of His death. It’s a wonder, then, why the disciples were so slow to understand, but they were. They could not comprehend a dying Messiah. Peter spoke up and said what they all were thinking. He told Jesus that this just wasn’t right. He can’t die, they won’t let this happen to Him.
Jesus’s sacrificial death was a part of God’s eternal plan. Whoever opposed it was unknowingly promoting Satan’s work (vs. 33). Peter was not considering God’s purposes, only his own desires and feelings. He only wanted the glory for Jesus, and by extension himself and the other apostles. He did not want Jesus to be the suffering servant, or persecution for the group. Without understanding, they were trying to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. Satan had also tried to prevent Him from going to the cross and securing our salvation. The disciples wanted to protect Jesus, but instead they should have been following Him.
After this rebuke, Jesus talks to the apostles and gives them a hard lesson and challenge, which is also for us, today. Condemned criminals carried their crosses to execution. Jesus used that image to show the ultimate submission required of His followers (vs. 34). It takes steadfast and committed effort to follow Jesus every moment, doing His will, even when difficult and the world pulls us or mocks us. No one who is unwilling to deny themself can claim to be a disciple of Jesus. Bearing our cross is giving willing submission and voluntary servanthood to Jesus, our Savior.
We should be willing to lose our life for the Gospel of Jesus Christ (vs 35). Nothing can compare with what we gain in Jesus. Pursuing a life of ease, comfort, and acceptance by the world will not find us eternal life. Those who give up their lives for Jesus and the Gospel, whether literally or by sacrificing their own personal desires, will find eternal life. Choose to follow Jesus rather than sin and pleasure. Christians need to let Jesus direct their lives rather than controlling it themselves. We need to submit to Jesus rather than always trying to be in charge.
Many people spend their whole life seeking pleasure, position, and power. These are only temporary, and in the end, once they have died, they have lost their soul (vs. 36-37) . It is then too late, and all that they “gained” in this world cannot buy a place in heaven. The pursuit of God is so much more important than the pursuit of the world. Nothing can make up for the loss of one’s soul. Even if we could gain “the whole world”, that would not compensate for losing one’s soul. How many exchange their eternal soul for much less than “the whole world”?
Jesus finished His talk with powerful words for us to take heed and remember (vs. 38). We can reject Jesus now, and after our death He will reject us when He comes again. Or, we can accept Him now, and He will accept us then. After we die, and when He returns, it will be too late to make that decision. The decision is ours today. What do you choose?
Amen!
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