Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 8. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It is a difficult consideration that Jesus presents to His hearers in our text. What does it mean to “FOLLOW JESUS.” What is required? What are the benefits, or payback for “FOLLOWING JESUS”? What are the negative consequences that may have to be faced?
- This is not a set of considerations that is exclusive to our relationship with Jesus, and to His Father. We go through the same calculations with our earthly associations as well, our relationships with other people. We count the cost of being honest and forthright in our politics. We count the cost and benefits of working for a particular company. When considering marriage, we look at the consequences of devoting our entire life to a particular spouse.
- The “fulcrum” in all of this is self-interest – the hope that whatever choices and decisions we make with our loyalty will work out best for us. But this means, of course, that we will be judging what that “best for us” really is. And our assumption is that we will know, that we will make the correct judgment.
- In our text, we see Jesus explaining these calculations to His disciples, in regard to decisions He has made about loyalty to people and loyalty to the will of our Heavenly Father. We also hear Peter reject the judgment of Jesus, and Jesus then castigating Peter. Jesus goes on then, not only in regard to His own destiny, but also describing the nature of life for those who decide to follow Him.
- This invitation remains in front of us, in front of all people. First, let us make sure we know Who is describing the life of “FOLLOWING JESUS.”
I. Jesus Is The Christ, The Son of God, And Our Savior
Text: “Peter answered Him, ‘You are the Christ.’”
Matthew 16:16,17 “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’”
Statement: There are some things we should take into consideration here. First, that Jesus, the Son of the Living God, knows everything. Further, as the Christ” – the anointed Savior of the world – Jesus is pure and perfect love. He would not say or encourage anything that is not truly in our best interest! So, regardless of our judgments as to the wisdom of “FOLLOWING JESUS,” it is certain that what He says is going to work out best for us.
Application: This tells us something about the response of Peter. At this point, though he knew some things about Jesus, he didn’t know everything, or even the most important things. If this could happen to Peter – who had spent a good deal of time with Jesus personally, face to face, and had seem Jesus’ miracles and His wisdom – consider how much more vulnerable we are to misjudgment and foolishness!
Transition: We can perhaps understand Peter’s concerns, but we need to remember that:
II. Jesus Provided Us With Salvation And Eternal Life Through His Suffering
A. This Included His Rejection By Religious And Political Authorities
Text: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the eldres and the chief prists and the scribes.”
B. This Included His Death Of A Cross
Text: “The Son of Man must be killed.”
C. And Also Included His Resurrection On The Third Day
Text: “and after three days rise again.”
Statement: This is what riled Peter enough to actually “rebuke” Jesus. Of course, Peter likely responded to the first two things, Jesus’ suffering rejection and horrific death. Perhaps it was impossible for him, given His impulsive personality, to understand and properly weigh what Jesus’ resurrection would mean. But we know today – His resurrection is His exaltation above all powers. It is His victory over sin, death, and the devil – all for us, for our benefit!
Application: Nonetheless, it is essential for our consideration of “FOLLOWING JESUS” to know and contemplate that His gift of salvation involved great personal suffering for Jesus. That is simply part of the equation. Was it worth it to Him? The only one who can answer this question is the one who knows how much God values love! Perhaps only God can truly know how pleasing our salvation is to Him!
But this is the foundational consideration in weighing whether or not we will be “FOLLOWING JESUS.” For Jesus makes clear that:
III. If We Follow Jesus We Follow His Way – And This Involves Sacrifice And Suffering
A. It Begins With Self-Denial, Which Is Horribly Painful To Our Sinful Nature
Text: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself.”
B. Following Jesus Involves Bearing The Cross That God Allows Us
Text: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
C. Following Jesus Involves Losing Our Life For Him, For The Sake Of The Gospel
Text: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
D. Ultimately, Following Jesus Means Taking His Side In All Things, No Matter What
Text: “Whoever is ashamed of Me and of My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Statement: Because of the fallenness of humanity, and the infection of sin, “FOLLOWING JESUS” involves swimming against the current of human culture and society. Initially, this seems to be quite difficult, and contrary to what is easiest and most pleasant to us. Everyone else is floating downstream in rafts, canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes – enjoying themselves; while we are struggling to get upstream. But just downstream is a horrific, inescapable, and deadly waterfall. What seems most pleasant is deadly; “FOLLOWING JESUS” is the only safe and truly blessed direction to go, even if means suffering the ridicule and perhaps even kicks of those going downstream to destruction.
Application: Jesus would not have us succumb to death and damnation. He provided salvation for us in His own bitter suffering and death. But He has shown us the outcome of His Way – resurrection, eternal life and glory in heaven. He calls us to follow Him – to receive His salvation by faith, to live in His gracious love, and to graciously love others even when it involves loss and suffering. But there will be just reward and immense compensation on the Last Day, when Jesus comes in the glory of His Father, when He raises us up again from death, and when we enter the joy of heaven!
Conclusion: These considerations are difficult. We might wish that “FOLLOWING JESUS” only meant “believing in Him” as we float down the river of this life. We might wish that “FOLLOWING JESUS” would bring us praise and honor and reward from our fellowmen. We might wish that Peter had been right, that Jesus would have agreed with him – but then there would be no salvation!
So we understand that it must be so, that “FOLLOWING JESUS” involves entering into His struggles, His suffering, and ultimately also His glory. If we remember His resurrection, and His promise that because He lives, we will live also, then we can also be assured that such self-denial and sacrifice and suffering cannot negate the greater good and blessedness of “FOLLOWING JESUS.”
God grant such wisdom and blessedness to each of us, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.