By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
FOLLOWED
Mark 8:31–9:1
Get Behind (8:31–33)
People were trying to figure out who exactly Jesus was at this point in His ministry and what He was going to do. Peter understood who Jesus was. He was the promised Messiah!
After Peter’s confession, Jesus begins to explain how He came to suffer and die. But how could the Messiah — the future ruler of Israel — die before His Kingdom is set up?
Jesus rebukes Peter because Peter does not understand that Jesus must suffer and die so that He can defeat death and fulfill Scripture in His resurrection. Just as Satan tempted Jesus earlier, Peter’s statement was a temptation as well.
Peter was looking at the situation with human sensibilities, not divine understanding. How often are we guilty of the same?
Many times we look to God with worldly eyes instead of the eyes of faith. Christians suffer at the hands of evil men throughout the world, and bad things happen even to the most godly of disciples.
Even Jesus Himself suffered even though He had done no wrong. If Jesus suffered, we should expect no less. The Bible is full of verses that tell us that we should expect hardship and persecution. When we face these trials, it does not mean God is punishing us. These are opportunities for us to glorify God and grow in faith.
Follow Me (8:34–38)
Following this episode, Jesus gives a speech about the cost of being a disciple. Being a disciple means taking up your cross and following Jesus in spite of the persecution and hardships that are to come. The idea of carrying one’s cross would be a weird one to Jesus’ hearers. It would be akin to someone today telling us to take up our electric chairs. It implies death.
But Jesus qualifies His statement. Dying to our own desires actually brings eternal life.
When we do the will of God and follow Jesus — no matter the cost — that is what it means to be a follower of Christ. The opposite of this — trying to save our own lives by affirming what the world has to offer — leads to eternal death.
This is why historically, Christians have been willing to die for their faith. They know that obedience to Christ is better than trying to please the world. We will receive an eternal reward if we cling to Christ and His promises.
See His Power (9:1)
At the end of Jesus’ speech, He tells those listening that some will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God coming in power. Some believe this is referring to Pentecost or Jesus’ Second Coming, but it is referring to His transfiguration that immediately follows this account in each Gospel.
This is truly Christ revealing His glory and power to three of His disciples. This is an affirmation to them that He is the divine Messiah; therefore, they can trust Him.
The ultimate proof of God’s power came through the resurrection, and now that Pentecost has occurred, the power of God dwells within believers.
The Holy Spirit is who convicts us of sin and enables us to live a life pleasing to God. This is why Christians have the ability to withstand persecution and stand against the culture. The power of God enables us to do so.
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