Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
I don’t know if you watch an infomercial from time to time. Perhaps you are surfing and you stop for the first few minutes to figure out what they are selling or find out what they are saying. After the initial push about a frying pan or opening pitch for facial cream for only four easy payments of something ending in $.99, you change the channel. Of course, there is still nothing on.
Before the half-hour presentation complete with promises of free shipping and fast delivery, there is usually some sort of disclaimer. It goes something like this: “The views expressed on this show do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this station.” There is no endorsement of the product, just airtime for their profit.
Jesus is not in the business of selling, but saving. He explains what that means for him and for us. He wants his thoughts to be ours. Think Jesus’ way about his future and about your future. We read from …
Mark 8:31-38
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, who lived for us and for whom we live,
Any infomercial wants to convince you that you cannot live without a particular item. They want you to recognize how much better or easier life will be. So for 30 minutes, they share precise facts and personal testimonials. But you may or may not agree. You may have a different view.
Jesus contends that you cannot live without a certain person. Him. He is not just another way, but the only way to heaven (Jn 14:6). He wants us to appreciate that and agree with that.
Think Jesus’ Way
1. About his future (31-33)
2. About your future (34-38)
1. About his future (31-33)
“You are the Christ” (Mk 8:29). That was Peter’s confession. And it was correct. Jesus was not John the Baptist. Not Elijah. Not another prophet (Mk 8:28). He was bigger than that. The Christ. He was the One whom God sent to declare God’s Word to us as prophet, to die for us as priest, and to deliver us from our enemies as king. Jesus instructs us about what that means for him. Think Jesus’ way about his future.
It was crunch time in a way like a teacher the week before a semester ends coaches his students about what will be on the final. The cross was coming closer for Jesus. And Jesus wanted to be clear about that. This was not a time for parables. They had their place. But not now. “He spoke plainly” (Mk 8:32). There was openness as well as honesty—words flowing freely. And he didn’t just tell. He taught (Jn 8:31). There were to be no misunderstanding or mistakes—no false conclusions or faulty assumptions. There were plenty of those poking around in the heads of others. But not in his. His would be no earthly glory or grandeur.
Jesus did not sugarcoat the truth or shield the disciples. “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” (Mk 8:31). Jesus lays his future out precisely. There was a divine necessity for the Son of God, and at the same time the Son of Man—just like us. Did you hear it? Must. He did not suggest when they would arrive in Jerusalem, “The Son of Man might.” Or “the Son of Man may.” It is not like a meteorologist who warns that the weather might be dicey soon, but we will wait a day or two to forecast for sure if we can expect snow or sleet. No. “The Son of Man must …”
“suffer many things” (Mk 8:31). The Passion Reading on Wednesday nights detail that—from the anguish in Gethsemane, to the anger of his enemies, to agony of his execution.
“must … be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law” (Mk 8:31). The religious authorities who should have known better judged him to be worthless like a person behind the counter at a gas station colors on a $20 bill and concludes that it is counterfeit (Jn 1:11). It was the Sanhedrin that clamored for his crucifixion.
“he must be killed” (Mk 8:31). Those men would be successful in bringing about his violent death through the Roman on a wooden instrument of torture.
“he must … after three days rise again” (Mk 8:31). That note of victory sailed past the disciples. We want it to sink in. Death was not defeat. Resurrection was a reality. And definite—3 days later. We wait for it and watch for it. There is Good Friday. But there is Easter Sunday.
That was too much for Peter. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him” (Mk 8:32). He was upset. That is understandable. The shameful suffering did not fit the picture of a mighty Messiah. We get it. We want glory without difficulty. Wouldn’t it be nice to have bulging biceps without the bench pressing?
But Peter was unaware. The others needed to understand Jesus’ purpose. “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter” (Mk 8:33). Jesus draws us in too as he corrects Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mk 8:33). “Get out of my sight.” Jesus was not overreacting like when we don’t get enough caffeine in the morning. He was not being cranky when we don’t get enough sleep at night. Peter actually became a spokesman of Satan. He championed the devil’s plan to rob the world of its Redeemer. It sounds strangely similar to that temptation in the wilderness. "Jesus, bow down and worship me. I will give you all the kingdoms of the world. No pounding of nails. No gasping for breath.” (Mt 4:8,9). To which Jesus replied: “Away from me, Satan!” (Mt 4:10). “Be gone.” Jesus saw the suggestion for what it was—the thoughts of an enemy, not a friend. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mk 8:33). “The things of men” was to shun the cross. “The things of God” was to shoulder the cross.
We have to inquire of someone, “What are you thinking?” We don’t know for sure. We are certain with Jesus. The Christ came to bear the cross—to wear our sin. The Serpent-Crusher would be the Sin-Carrier (Ge 3:15; Is 53). First the cross. Crucifixion. As Paul put it: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). Then the crown. Then resurrection. As a result, we have been justified—cleared of any charge against us. He changed our relationship from one of hostility to harmony (Ro 5:10,11). There is peace with God and access to him (Ro 5:1,2). Life with him right now and life with him forever (Ro 5:10). Think Jesus’ way about his future—cross bearer.
2. About our future (34-38)
“You are a Christian.” That is our conclusion. A little Christ. Jesus educates us on what that signifies for you. Think Jesus’ way about your future.
This training was for wide-scale distribution: “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples” (Mk 8:34). There are three things for going behind Jesus: “If anyone would come after me, …” (Mk 8:34).
“he must deny himself” (Mk 8:34). That sounds like what many deem is part of Lent—giving something up (as long as it is not chocolate). But it is more. It is not saying “no” to something, but someone. Self. Think of what Peter did as he warmed himself by the fire during Jesus’ trial: “I don’t know him” (Mt 26:69ff.). Three times. He wanted nothing to do with Jesus.
We refuse to pay attention to our sinful nature when it comes to abusing God’s gifts. We use money or marriage in the manner in which God designed it. We think Jesus’ way—selfless love, not selfish love (2 Co 5:15). Nothing gets in the way of our relationship with God.
“take up his cross” (Mk 8:34). We carry a cross. Not like Jesus. His was to pay for our sins. And he finished the job (Jn 19:30). Ours is not the cause of salvation, but a consequence of salvation.
We think of the ribbing or ridicule that might come to us because we live according to the Word rather than along with the world. A high school girl breaks up with her boyfriend whom she loves because he badmouths her Savior. Or the dishonor to even death that is not out of the question.
“and follow me” (Mk 8:34). That is ongoing.
We tag along and trail after Jesus like the child’s game of follow the leader.
This is not a burden or a bother (Acts 5:41). It is about profit and loss. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mk 8:35). At first, it sounds like a riddle. But take it apart. Whoever wants to live for this life only—and nothing wrong with enjoying the 70 or 80 years plus that God grants—ends up with eternal ruin. The chase was after a desire that was temporary or a diversion that was momentary. The opposite is the case. Whoever looks to and longs for eternal life does not come up short (Ro 1:16). We keep in mind the big picture.
Jesus backs that up with two questions with obvious answers:
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mk 8:36). There is no advantage in that scenario. And who can even grab more than a corner of the world? Some trade their eternal home for so much less.
“Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk 8:37). What could we slide across the table to buy God off or bribe him—a green piece of paper with a president on it (Ps 49:7)? Everything belongs to him anyway. There is nothing to compensate for such a loss. It would be like driving a new car away from the dealership to swap it with one in a junkyard.
Ultimately it won’t end well. “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” (Mk 8:38). If a person is red-faced about Jesus—who he is or what he says—will be saddened forever with Jesus’ sentence.
But Jesus is coming back for his own who trusted in him. He will gladly pick out those who believed in him. In the meantime, we have the same comfort as Jacob. When he was running away from home, he heard God’s faithful and firm promise: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Ge 28:15). We can sing with the psalmist Asaph: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you take me into glory” (Ps 73:23,24). Think Jesus’ way about your future. There is cross bearing. First the cross. Then the crown.
You might not be sold on an exercise program or diet plan after a few minutes of an infomercial. You can have your specific outlook and still be right. You can live without it. But not Jesus. Think Jesus’ way about his future. He went to the cross to save. And think Jesus’ way about your future. We go with the cross to heaven. Happy Lent. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Ro 16:20). Amen.
February 25, 2018
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