Word@Work 098 - Mark 8:34-38
Published: Tue, 04/08/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 8:34-38 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 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." (NIV)
After Jesus announced Himself as the suffering Christ, he then looked towards His disciples. If they were to keep on following, they would end up where He was going. The options were stark but real. True discipleship includes suffering as a part of the package (cf Phil 1:29). The cross Jesus talked about was the voluntary putting to death of self interest and self assertion - not some physical or relationship difficulty, however painful.
The disciples did not want to die, but Jesus said that those who were unwilling to die would not live; and those who accepted their cross, would live. To be ashamed of Jesus, meant that He would be ashamed of them on the day of glory. The soul is not built or kept by the best of this life - to try that route is to lose soul-relationship with God for ever. It seems a curious upside down world, in which life leads to death, but death leads to life. But that is the way of the cross - for Jesus and for us too.
Saving our skin is a natural ambition. The willingness to lose it for the Lord's sake (as many missionaries did 100+ years ago ... and many persecuted believers still do today), is only possible by a spiritual transformation - created by a passionate love for Christ. Anything less, is to be ashamed of the Saviour: and His verdict on that attitude is catastrophically final. There is some comfort by the restoration of the disciples (especially Peter) after the resurrection. But that should only serve to stimulate our repentance and renewed lifestyle, while there is time before Christ's return!
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank you for your longsuffering attitude to my unwillingness to follow the Lord Jesus in His self denial and suffering for the gospel's sake. Please help me to repent and please work that transformation in my life so that I might desire to do Your will above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
After Jesus announced Himself as the suffering Christ, he then looked towards His disciples. If they were to keep on following, they would end up where He was going. The options were stark but real. True discipleship includes suffering as a part of the package (cf Phil 1:29). The cross Jesus talked about was the voluntary putting to death of self interest and self assertion - not some physical or relationship difficulty, however painful.
The disciples did not want to die, but Jesus said that those who were unwilling to die would not live; and those who accepted their cross, would live. To be ashamed of Jesus, meant that He would be ashamed of them on the day of glory. The soul is not built or kept by the best of this life - to try that route is to lose soul-relationship with God for ever. It seems a curious upside down world, in which life leads to death, but death leads to life. But that is the way of the cross - for Jesus and for us too.
Saving our skin is a natural ambition. The willingness to lose it for the Lord's sake (as many missionaries did 100+ years ago ... and many persecuted believers still do today), is only possible by a spiritual transformation - created by a passionate love for Christ. Anything less, is to be ashamed of the Saviour: and His verdict on that attitude is catastrophically final. There is some comfort by the restoration of the disciples (especially Peter) after the resurrection. But that should only serve to stimulate our repentance and renewed lifestyle, while there is time before Christ's return!
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank you for your longsuffering attitude to my unwillingness to follow the Lord Jesus in His self denial and suffering for the gospel's sake. Please help me to repent and please work that transformation in my life so that I might desire to do Your will above all else. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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