Friday Devo
Scripture:
Mark 8:31-35
31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. 32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. 32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
Commentary:
8:31 Jesus corrects the disciples’ messianic expectation by stressing that the Son of Man must (cf. 9:12; 14:21, 41) be killed (cf. 9:9, 12, 31; 10:34, 45; 14:21, 41) and rise again (cf. Isa. 53:1–12). Christ’s death is necessary because the eternal, messianic rule of God begins with atonement for sin, i.e., the sacrifice that will bring about reconciliation between God and man. The leaders, who will reject Jesus, belong to factions of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court in Israel (e.g., Mark 10:33; 11:18; 14:1; 15:1). While the opponents seek to kill Jesus (3:6), God’s appointed will is that the Messiah atone for sins. To “rise” again must puzzle the disciples. They expect only the general resurrection of all mankind at the end of the age, prior to judgment (Dan. 12:2).
8:33 turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter. The fact that Jesus looked at all the disciples implies that his rebuke of Peter was intended for all of them. “Get behind me, Satan!” It is only Peter’s thought, not him personally, that Jesus rejects as satanic. Peter does not recognize that the messianic ruler of God’s eternal kingdom has come to die for his sins.
8:34–9:1 Call to Discipleship. The cost of discipleship includes being able to follow Jesus and to confess him courageously.
8:34 Following the first major prediction of his death and resurrection (v. 31), Jesus instructs in discipleship all those who would come after me. The goal of self-denial (cf. 14:30, 31, 72) and taking up one’s cross is not pathological self-abasement or a martyr complex but being free to follow the Messiah (1:18; 2:13). Self-denial means letting go of self-determination (cf. Ps. 49:6–8) and replacing it with obedience to and dependence on the Messiah.
8:35 Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word “life”: whoever lives a self-centered life focused on this present world (i.e., would save his life) will not find eternal life with God (will lose it); whoever gives up his self-centered life of rebellion against God (loses his life) for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God (will save it; see v. 38).
8:33 turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter. The fact that Jesus looked at all the disciples implies that his rebuke of Peter was intended for all of them. “Get behind me, Satan!” It is only Peter’s thought, not him personally, that Jesus rejects as satanic. Peter does not recognize that the messianic ruler of God’s eternal kingdom has come to die for his sins.
8:34–9:1 Call to Discipleship. The cost of discipleship includes being able to follow Jesus and to confess him courageously.
8:34 Following the first major prediction of his death and resurrection (v. 31), Jesus instructs in discipleship all those who would come after me. The goal of self-denial (cf. 14:30, 31, 72) and taking up one’s cross is not pathological self-abasement or a martyr complex but being free to follow the Messiah (1:18; 2:13). Self-denial means letting go of self-determination (cf. Ps. 49:6–8) and replacing it with obedience to and dependence on the Messiah.
8:35 Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word “life”: whoever lives a self-centered life focused on this present world (i.e., would save his life) will not find eternal life with God (will lose it); whoever gives up his self-centered life of rebellion against God (loses his life) for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God (will save it; see v. 38).
Questions:
- The time has come for believers to draw a line in the sand. Are you IN or OUT? Are you a true disciple of Jesus or are you a casual, cultural Christian? Are you a fan or a follower? Jesus preached the same message to anyone who would listen. In this particular case, he likened following him to "taking up your cross." Well, we all know what a cross is and what it was used for. Jesus isn't saying, "Believe in me and it'll be alright." No, no, no. Quite the opposite. German theologian said it this way, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Now, does this mean we have to literally die for Jesus to be his disciple? It could. But what Jesus is saying is that being a disciple is about leaving your old life, your old ways, your desires, and follow him. We must die to ourselves. Self-denial and submission don't come very naturally to us. Can you say of yourself that you are a true disciple? Do you daily take up your cross and follow him? What does that even look like, practically speaking?
- Peter, as always, lets his heart overrun his mouth. He seems to always be the one that speaks up and overreaches. But this interaction is interesting. Peter seems to be doing a noble thing. Here is his best friend, mentor, teacher, Lord, saying that he's going to be betrayed, rejected, dragged away and killed. What would YOU have done in that circumstance. I think it would be a natural response to be like Peter. "NO WAY is that happening to you, Jesus! Over my dead body!" Flash forward to the cut off ear in the garden, ha! But Jesus rebukes Peter pretty harshly. Basically tells him he's being used by satan. Then he talks about perspective. It seems to be a dangerous thing to view things only from OUR perspective. We should be thinking past our own selfish agendas and desires and, instead, considering HIS agendas and desires. When was the last time you asked God what HIS plans are for you, your marriage, your kids, your finances, your job/career? When was the last time you sought HIS perspective about situations in your life? Take some time today to do just that! Then follow.
Pray:
- That you would take up your cross daily and follow Jesus.
- That you would daily be looking for God's perspective on your life and circumstances.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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