Introduction
The popular talk-show host Larry King was one asked whom he would choose, if he had the choice to interview one person across history. Larry King replied that he would like to interview Jesus Christ and that he would ask Him just one question: “Are you indeed virgin born? The answer to that question,¨ said King, “would explain history for me.”
--Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message, p. 38
Mark 8:31-38 immediately follows a question Jesus posed to his disciples. He asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” They responded in Mark 8:28, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
Let’s pick up our text at this point:
MK 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
MK 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
It is important to note that Peter and Jesus had very different things in mind regarding the title, “Christ”.
• The title means “Anointed One”. “Messiah” is a synonym.
• When Peter used the term, he was thinking about the popular version of the Jews…that the Messiah would be a political leader. One who would restore the Jews to self-rule and throw out foreigners.
• When Jesus heard this proclamation from Peter he warned them not to tell anyone about him. This seems peculiar. There are times in the Gospels that Jesus encourages people to tell others about him and in several instances where Jesus forbids people to speak about what has occurred. What’s the difference? It has to do with the understanding of the people regarding the “Christ”.
• In Jewish territory, where people had in mind what the “Christ” should do, Jesus asked for secrecy.
• In Gentile territory, where people were unfamiliar with the political ideas, Jesus encouraged testimony.
• Jesus was wary of Peter’s proclamation and for good reason. Peter didn’t like what Jesus began to explain about His true mission—that He would suffer, be killed and rise again.
There are two things to take away from the exchange of rebukes in verses 32 and 33:
1. We are self-centered
2. When we aren’t doing God’s work, we are doing Satan’s work!
• This rebuke of Jesus was harsh. Jesus called Peter Satan. Peter’s counsel was the same type of temptation Jesus had to resist in the desert.
MT 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
MT 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ "
Jesus then lays it all out to the crowd. He tells them directly what it will mean if they want to follow Him. And He tells us the same things today:
1. Take a backseat
v. 34, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
• James A. Brooks, in his commentary on Mark, writes, “To deny oneself is not to do without something or even many things. It is not asceticism, not self-rejection or self-hatred, nor is it even the disowning of particular sins. It is to renounce the self as the dominant element in life. It is to replace the self with God-in-Christ as the object of affections. It is to place the divine will before self-will.” (New American Commentary, pg. 137)
• “A survey of 7,000 people, conducted by the sponsorship Research International in six countries found that the Shell Oil logo, the Mercedes badge and the five Olympic rings were recognized far more widely than the Christian Cross. McDonald’s golden arches and Shell’s glowing yellow shell were recognized by 84% of those questioned; while a mere 54% could identify the Cross.”
• God must be the directing force in the Christian life. Otherwise the life is not Christian.
• Our agendas can no longer take precedence. We are raised to be self-sufficient, strong-willed, and ambitious. God is not against those traits. What He desires is those traits be applied to the only mission that matters in life.
• The Laodicean Church announces publication of "Church Songs," whose title, according to the editor, was chosen because "We didn’t want to turn anybody off with threatening words that no one understands anymore like ’worship’ or ’hymn.’ People in today’s society get kind of uncomfortable with too much talk about things like commitment and dedication. They’d much rather have a religion that they can turn on or off at will. Our book seeks to meet that need."
Table Of Contents:
--A Comfy Mattress Is Our God
--Above Average is Thy Faithfulness
--Be Thou My Hobby
--Blest Be the Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
-- I Surrender Some
--My Hope is Built on Nothing Much
--Oh, How I Like Jesus
-- Sit Up, Sit Up for Jesus
-- There Shall be Sprinkles of Blessings
--What an Acquaintance We Have in Jesus
--When Peace, Like a Trickle. . .
--When the Saints Go Sneaking In
2. Take stock of life
v. 35, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
• Jesus makes a couple of interesting points along this line of thought:
o You can make a huge splash in this life but if you refuse to pay attention to the matter of eternal life, you have forfeited the biggest game! (v.36, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?)
o You are totally bankrupt to do anything about the condition of your soul except to call upon Jesus. (v.37, Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?)
3. Take a stand
v. 38, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
• Just like the generation Jesus lived among, we must stand in stark contrast to our world’s value system today.
• Back then, standing up and claiming to be a Christian very often meant physical abuse, torture, and even death. Many Christians in the early days were crucified just like Jesus. (Taking up their cross had a very literal application).
• We are called to be vocal about the things that are contrary to the Word of God.
• Kierkegaard once said “To become an ‘admirer of Jesus’ is much easier than to become a follower.
• There will be an accounting of our actions & lack of action!
Conclusion
What has your mind been set upon? Have you in mind the things of God or the things of man?
James Boice puts it this way:
“Is he as real to you spiritually as something you can taste or handle? Is he as much a part of you as that which you can eat? Do not think me blasphemous when I say that he must be real and as useful to you as a hamburger and French fries. I say this because, although he is obviously far more real and useful than these, the unfortunate thing is that for many people he is much less.”
Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I want you to know that you are in step with the Lover of your soul. I want you to have confidence that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is your God too! You can leave here today with a renewal of your spirit if you ask God to set your mind on the things above.
Take a backseat
Take stock of your life
Take a stand
In closing, I want us to sing, “Cleanse Me”. As we sing, consider how you should respond to the truth of God’s Word. What action should you take to seal your decision to offer yourself fresh and new to this God who is calling you now?
