A Pyrrhic Victory
Mark 8:31-38
Have you ever heard the saying, “They won the battle, but they lost the war?”
This is like a Pyrrhic (Pear rick) victory; which is a victory that ends up causing such a devastating toll on the victor, it ends up as a defeat, rather than a victory, due to its long term effects.
The phrase originated from a quote from a Greek King named Pyrrhus (pear-ess), whose triumph against Rome in 279 BC, killed so many of his own forces, it ended his battle with Rome.
The Greek king’s army managed to defeat the Romans in two major battles, coming into Italy with 25,000 men and 20 elephants, which the Romans had never seen before.
But later, the Greek King said to a friend that another victory against the Romans would “utterly undo him”; and ultimately, he lost to Rome in 275 BC.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 8 as we continue in that study
Last week, in Mark, we learned about a gradual healing.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Perhaps it was the atmosphere of unbelief in Bethsaida that hindered Him, or it may have been the spiritual condition of the man himself.” (Warren Wiersbe)
Then Jesus asked the most important question in history; and our answer to the question determines where we will spend eternity.
“Who do men say that I am?” Remember we said, “There is way too much evidence to simply say Jesus never existed”.
Then in vs. 29, Jesus looked right at them and asked, "But who do you say that I am?"
Jesus also said in Matthew 28:18 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” NKJV
So we ended last week saying, “Even though, the authority described in Matthew 28 was given to Jesus; He in turn, told us to go into the world, with His authority, to make disciples”.
Today, we will see what appeared to be a Pyrrhic (Pear rick) victory for Satan; but it was the Lord’s plan “A” from the start.
I. His cross.
Read Mark 8:31
Before going into detail about His death and crucifixion, Jesus commanded His Disciples to tell no one that He is the Messiah.
Jesus proved He was Messiah; but now, as the time draws near for His crucifixion, He says not to tell people He is Messiah.
We have said many times in the past that there are over 300 Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus was the only One in all human history to fulfill those prophecies.
We have also mentioned in the past about the astronomical odds, against anyone even fulfilling just eight of those prophecies and yet, Jesus fulfilled them all.
Even though the Jewish people had learned those prophecies, the idea that the Messiah would suffer, was unthinkable to them.
After all, in their minds the Messiah was going to come and make everything right in the world, by defeating evil and putting an end to all injustice.
How could the Messiah possibly defeat evil and be victorious over Israel’s enemies, by being killed on a cross?
Try to imagine what was going on in the Disciple’s minds as they recount all of the promises and prophecies attributed to Messiah, while knowing Jesus was the Promised One.
These Disciples missed what a lot of the Jews still miss today: the Messiah first came as a Suffering Servant to deal with our sin issue; before He will come back as the conquering King.
I want to discuss some Old Testament prophecies that specifically foretold Messiah’s death and how He would die, years before crucifixion was even a normal practice in Rome.
These predictions of Messiah’s crucifixion happened well before crucifixion was used as a death penalty in the Rome Empire.
The pub-med website states that crucifixion was introduced to Rome in the 3rd century BC and they perfected crucifixion until it was abolished by Constantine I in the 4th century AD.
“Crucifixion was applied mostly to slaves, disgraced soldiers, Christians and foreigners-very rarely to Roman citizens.”
Zechariah was written roughly 500 years before Christ and hundreds of years before crucifixion was introduced to Rome.
The Lord, speaking of the coming deliverance of Judah said in Zechariah 12:10 (a), "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication…
Zechariah 12:10(b) then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Jesus knew He was going to suffer and be killed; but, He also knew He would be raised the third day.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded (pierced in NIV) for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
King David, 1000 years before Christ, wrote in Psalm 22:16 For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
Psalm 22:17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
Psalm 22:18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. NKJV
Again, just like other Jewish people, the Disciples had read and learned all of these prophecies; but, the idea that the Messiah would suffer was unthinkable to them.
The Roman philosopher Cicero said, “Decent Roman citizens shouldn’t speak of the cross because it was unfit for them to even ponder that kind of murderous death.”
It was against Roman law for any of its citizens to be executed by crucifixion.
So notice…
II. Peter’s challenge.
Read Mark 8:32-33
This scene took place right after Peter said Jesus was the Messiah; in fact, in Matthew’s Gospel we read…
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. NKJV
Peter was saying, “Jesus, You just told me I was right by saying You are the Christ, and Your Father in heaven showed me that truth about You. So You are the conquering King and Messiah.”
Peter was so dumbfounded that he began to rebuke Jesus and rebuke is actually the same word Jesus used to cast out demons.
Peter is bold enough to try and rebuke Jesus, saying this cannot happen that way, because Jesus You are our the King, and I will never let You be killed.
I am sure Peter thought he was doing well telling Jesus He didn’t have to suffer; thinking he could stop it from happening.
Peter was condemning Jesus in the strongest language available.
What Peter failed to understand was that Jesus is the Promised Messiah and the King of kings; but, He was not going to Jerusalem to defeat Rome and all of the evil and injustice.
The way Jesus was going back to His rightful throne in heaven, happened after the Cross and the Resurrection.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “A king who dies on the cross must be the king of a rather strange kingdom.”
Then Jesus begins to tell the implications of Him being the Messiah having to suffer, die, and rise on the third day…
But notice Jesus’ answer…Re-read vs. 33.
Jesus was not calling Peter, Satan. Jesus is proclaiming that the origin of Peter’s statement comes from the philosophy of Hell.
Ever since Satan was cast out of heaven, he has tried to destroy or corrupt the godly seed.
…from the murder of Abel, to the killing of male babies in Egypt with Moses, to the evil plot of Haman in the book of Esther and even Herod killing babies after the visit of the Magi.
Even today Satan is still working his destructive plan even though many Christians are unaware of his methods.
The reason this suggestion from Peter was evil was ultimately shown at the cross, where Jesus won and Satan lost. Salvation was paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary.
This appeared to be a Pyrrhic (Pear rick) victory; which again is a victory that inflicts a devastating toll on the victor that really ends up being a defeat, because of the long term effects.
But this was not a Pyrrhic (Pear-rick) victory, because the cross was the original plan from the Lord to redeem sinful man.
Satan is a created being who can never be victorious over our creator God, Jesus Christ. He willingly died on the Cross!
Peter thought he did well, by suggesting Jesus should avoid the cross; but little did Peter know his comment originated in Hell.
How many well meaning people have actually given evil advice?
Think of Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, who was zealous for God and hated Christians. Saul was present, and giving his consent when the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was killed.
Paul said in Acts 22:4, I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, NKJV
Saul believed he was serving God by placing Christians into prison, and even executing them. How could such a highly educated man be completely wrong?
How about the religious leaders who knew the prophecies of Messiah, but did not accept Him as Messiah; they ultimately crucified Jesus as a common criminal.
The Jews did not want to accept the Messiah as the Suffering Servant as He was prophesied to come. Even educated people like Saul, who later was known as Paul, did not understand.
David Guzik said, “Peter was not aware that he spoke for Satan, just as a moment before he was not aware that he spoke for God.
Even though Peter had been with Jesus witnessing His miracles, it was the Lord who revealed Jesus’ deity to Peter, earlier.
Origen of Alexandria, said, “Jesus was saying, ‘Peter, your place is behind me, not in front of me.
It is your place to follow me in the way I choose, not to try to lead me in the way you would like me to go.”
Basically, Peter failed to have an eternal perspective!
III. Our cross.
Read Mark 8:34-35
Jesus had just told His Disciples that He was going to die on a cross and now He says that anyone who wants to follow Him must deny themselves and take up their own cross.
Saint Augustine said, “The Lord has established His sovereignty from a tree, who is it who fights with wood? Christ, from His cross, He has conquered kings.”
Notice who Jesus addresses here with this statement, “Whoever desires to come after Me…” these words of Jesus are an invitation into a love relationship, not a command.
Idleman says “Come after” speaks of a romantic relationship. Jesus is describing a passionate pursuit of someone you love.
Love can’t be forced and Jesus is a gentleman and won’t force us to come after Him; but, if you are willing to have a Love relationship with Jesus, it is available to you.
Jesus says whoever desires; i.e., if a person has a sincere desire to belong to Christ, they must be willing to be Jesus’ disciple.
Jesus wants His followers to pursue Him with the same passion they would pursue someone romantically; a pursuit that should consume their thoughts, their resources, and their energy.
1. Let him deny himself.
Adam Clarke says this means, “To renounce self-dependence, and selfish pursuits - Let him deny himself.”
Jesus said He would suffer, be rejected, and die on a cross.
Peter rebuked Jesus, and then Jesus made it clear the Disciples will endure the same treatment.
The only way it was going to be possible for the Disciples to deny themselves was for them to fully rely on God.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. NKJV
Here, Jesus is not necessarily talking about denying yourself material things, because any religion can teach you to do that.
He is speaking of giving yourself wholly to Jesus and His will, as we also share in His death and suffering.
Self denial means to stop looking out for our own interest and fully submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Once we deny ourselves that we can fully discover the joy of following Christ.
2. Take up his cross.
Some people say the cross I have to bear is, my mother in-law, or some illness, or something else we cannot change in life.
But, that is not what Jesus is talking about here in our passage.
Peter was urging Jesus not to take the cross of Calvary and so Jesus told Peter, he will have to take the cross as well.
Jesus is talking about a complete surrender to the will of God.
The cross was an element of suffering and death. Jesus is telling His followers that becoming a Disciple comes with a hefty price.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night Jesus was arrested, in Luke 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." NKJV
Many of His followers will not have to be Martyrs; but are we willing to completely submit to the Father’s will for our lives?
A. W. Tozer said “In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross. If he refuses the cross he remains on the throne.
We want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying.”
3. …and follow Me.
The word follow, in the tense it is written, means to continually follow in a specific direction; following a specific person.
The Lord has a direction for your life and the choice of every person, is to either follow Him, or go the path of destruction.
Chuck Smith, “Any dead fish can follow the current; it takes someone who is alive to swim upstream against the current”.
The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:1, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
When you were dead in sin, you followed the course of the world; now Christ has made you alive, so you can follow Him.
Following Jesus is the only way to find the Abundant Life. You will never truly live, until you die to yourself and follow Him!
IV. Our gain.
Read Mark 8:36-38
Jesus is asking, “What is it worth to be the wealthiest man in hell?” “Why would you sell your soul for such a small price?”
Remember the question of Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?”
Re-read Mark 8:38
Jesus would not identify Himself with those who did not identify with Him; His teachings, His suffering, His rejection, and His death.
A Christ follower is a person who has decided to trust and follow Jesus, as they crucify their old life and receive eternal life
What the Cross meant to Jesus, it also means to us. To die!
The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “The taking up of the cross involves the total submission of your will to God.”
…it is obedience to God’s will as revealed in His Word, accepting the consequences without reservations for Jesus’ sake.
Truly following Christ comes with risks and costs;
…sometimes it costs relationships, personal desires, or in the Disciples case; all of them with the exception of John, lost their very lives.
A lot of people buy into the lie that they must be self indulgent in order to enjoy this life; but, the short lived enjoyment we get from sin is not worth the eternity we could miss with Jesus.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Hebrews 11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. NKJV
Jesus obediently took the cross on our behalf, and we learn that suffering for the Lord, always leads to glory.
Jesus is the rightful heir to the throne; but, He chose to purchase us, by taking the cross instead of taking the short cut offered to Him, and refusing to die.
John Walvoord said, “As the road to triumph differs for a disciple, so also does the reward. For the world, there is immediate gain but ultimate loss: for the disciple, there is immediate loss but ultimate gain.
“As Jesus pointed out, ultimately the man who loses his own soul in the process of gaining the whole world is exchanging his future glory for a temporary reward”. (Walvoord)
V. Practical Application.
Jesus did not leave us here on earth, after salvation, for pleasure and to live for self.
He clearly states in Mark 8:34 "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. NKJV
Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call of self-sacrifice. One must be willing to die to self, in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self means, Jesus controls your life.
We must believe in Jesus for eternal life, but the mistake a lot of people make it thinking belief is simply an intellectual exercise.
Biblical belief in Jesus is a verb and an action word; a belief in Jesus causes a reaction empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Biblical definition of faith contains two aspects: intellectual assent and complete trust in Jesus.
Intellectual knowledge means to believe something to be true.
Trust, means to rely on something, by placing the full weight of your confidence in the person or object, of your faith.
Biblical faith requires intellectual agreement with the facts; but it also trusts in the facts. This faith comes as a gift from God.
We must personally and fully, rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins; not by works we can do.
God gives us salvation when we place our trust in who Jesus is and what He accomplished on Calvary’s cross on our behalf.
Satan thought he won at the cross, until Jesus proclaimed the work of salvation was finished, as Jesus took His last breath.
Now 1 John 4:19 says We love Him because He first loved us.
The craziest story ever, is God putting on flesh, to come to earth, and die in our place. He took the initiative and pursued you.
When we realize the extravagance of His love it begins to change our hearts. Jesus wants His followers to pursue Him with the same passion we would pursue someone romantically;
This love pursuit, can easily consume our thoughts, our resources, and our energy. Being a follower of Jesus is the only way we can enjoy the Abundant Life He has promised us!
A true follower of Jesus is someone who has pursued Jesus as they come after Him and then they go in the direction He leads.
And as we follow the Creator’s plan, we will enjoy Abundant Life; His ways lead to love, joy, peace, and everlasting life!
