Scripture for this week s lesson Mark 8:27-38 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am? 28 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. 29 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Messiah. 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Jesus Predicts His Death 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! he said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. The Way of the Cross 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life [a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father s glory with the holy angels. Series Recap From Pastor Mark What does it mean to live upside down? What does it mean to live in such a way that is different than the world around us? As we have followed Jesus through the book of Mark, we are beginning to see what life is like in this Upside Down Kingdom. Last week, we briefly re-visited the Parable of the Sower and were reminded that this parable functions like a table of contents for how the message of Jesus will be received. We certainly want to avoid becoming like the well-worn path that is unreceptive to the Word of God. However, the journey to becoming good soil may take us to places we re not necessarily comfortable with. Jesus found good soil in the strangest of places, and we are called to go with him. In obediently following him to strange
and out-of-the-way places, we become the kind of people that produce a crop 30, 60 and 100 times what is sown in our lives. The Shallow Soil As you ll recall there are 2 other soil types that represent possible responses to Jesus message: the weed-infested soil and the rocky/shallow soil. Here s how Jesus described a rocky or shallow response: Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Mark 4:5-6) Reflection Question Based on last week s sermon, where do we find good soil? The emphasis last week talked about how we find good soil in the strangest places. It is when we allow God to move us to strange and uncommon areas, we can see God using people and circumstances that otherwise would seem like an unlikely mission field. Now think about rocky and shallow soil. Is this hard to find? Do we see people who live in areas that are rocky and shallow? Remember the seed sprouts quickly in rocky and shallow soil but it dies off just as quickly because of the lack of root base. This large root base is imperative to help sustain a plant during drought, excessive rain, wind, scorching heat, etc. Pastor Mark said Mark includes the shallow responses to the Gospel all throughout this story. So often, lives characterized by shallow soil are close to the Kingdom, and yet, they are so far away. Seeing, but not Seeing Clearly How often do we got through our day talking to people, doing our work, and just participating in life but we miss the things going on around us? Are we so focused on our own issues/life that we miss what God is trying to show us? Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, Do you see anything? 24 He looked up and said, I see people; they look like trees walking around. 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, Don t even go into the village. Mark 8:22-26. Jesus heals a blind man. Jesus asks him if he can see and he replies, I see people, but they look like trees walking around. The healing is partially complete. He s close to restoration, but so far away. He s better than he was, but Jesus doesn t allow that to be the standard. He touches the man s eyes again so that he not only sees, he sees clearly.
Reflection Question The blind man needs two touches to bring his physical sight? What two touches did the disciples need to bring the spiritual sight Peter articulates in 8:27-30? Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am? 28 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. 29 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Messiah. 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Reflection Question The Jewish people were expecting a Messiah they thought would be God s agent in bringing in the kingdom, in sorting out the mess and muddle Israel was in politically, in putting the Gentiles in their place. Peter s reaction makes it clear that s the way he thought. How does Jesus redefine what the Messiah would do instead in 8:31-9:1? Jesus Predicts His Death 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! he said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. The Way of the Cross 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life [b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father s glory with the holy angels. Mark 9 1 And he said to them, Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.
There is a difference between knowing about Jesus, and having a relationship with Jesus. It may be that we get just enough religion to inoculate ourselves from the obvious problems of society, but fail to be in a passionate and growing relationship with Jesus that actually makes a difference in the world. It s possible to see God s plan for our lives, but to not see it clearly. It s possible to be close to this Kingdom, but so far away. And this is the great tragedy of shallow soil. Pastor Mark s thoughts - Thankfully, the sower is faithful to sow. He never gives up on us, just like he never gave up on the disciples. Consistently, at every turn in Mark s Gospel, they represent and embody a shallow response to the Gospel. The word that is sown in their lives springs up quickly, but as the story progresses, the plants die for lack of depth. This is very evident in the life of Peter. The passage we read this morning is famously referred to as Peter s confession. As they move from Galilee to Jerusalem, so does the focus of Jesus ministry. Beginning in Galilee, Jesus ministry dealt with identifying Jesus as the Christ, the holy and anointed one of God, the promised Messiah. As they stand on the mountain in Caesarea Philippi, they can look back on what has been done in Galilee. Honestly, a positive and enlightening ministry. But as they move forward, Mark helps us to see the dramatic shift that takes the group to Jerusalem. Jerusalem in where things become drastically different. It is in Jerusalem that Jesus will be betrayed, falsely accused, mercilessly beaten, and wrongfully crucified between two thieves. The ministry in Galilee has been Jesus identity as the Christ, the Messiah. As they move towards Jerusalem, the emphasis is on what it means to be Christ. Who is Jesus (v. 27-30) Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am? 28 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. 29 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, You are the Messiah. 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Reflection Question So why is this question such a big deal? Why does Jesus want to know what people are saying? Or can it be that he wants to know what his disciples, his best friends, the ones that should know him the best are saying? Do you ever wonder what the disciples perspective was with all of this? Jesus was getting quite a bit of notoriety both good and bad. Have you ever spent time with someone important such as one of the leaders of your organization, a famous sports
figure, or someone who knows everyone in the community? Do you begin to feel important just because you are around them? Should people know you because of who you are hanging out with? Do you suddenly feel like an expert in their area of knowledge? Do you feel like people should now listen to what you have to say? *** This is quite convicting if you are honest and transparent. *** Reflection Question Jesus asks us the same question he asked his disciples: Who do you say I am? What is your answer to who Jesus is and what he is actually doing in the world? What Does being Christ Mean? (v. 31-33) What does it mean to confess Jesus as Christ? In the verses that follow, Jesus predicts his suffering and death. This is actually 1 of 3 times on the way to Jerusalem that Jesus makes clear what is going to happen when they get to Jerusalem. He then began to teach them that 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. (Mark 8:31) Jesus understands exactly what is about to happen. The disciples not so much. Have you noticed that there are times when Jesus tells the disciples and the people he is ministering to not to tell anyone but in last week s lesson, Jesus told the man who was delivered from the legion of demons to go and to tell everyone in his village. Reflection Question Why do you think that is? Why does Jesus tell some people to come with him, some people to stay behind, some people not to say anything and others to tell their village friends? At the same time, why does God call some of us to serve in missions overseas while He calls others of us to stay home and teach, and others serve in the community? Jesus is careful not to allow the knowledge or lack of knowledge go to the disciples heads. They don t understand enough and are not ready to share what they know. After all, Jesus life is on the line. Consequently so are the lives and souls of so many other people. Unfortunately there is always one who thinks they understand perfectly. For Jesus, it was Peter. While Jesus trusted him with a great deal, Peter got it wrong and Jesus had to help him to understand. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8:32)
Peter s rebuke is actually Mark s way of elaborating on the temptation of Jesus. Unlike Luke and Matthew, the temptation is very brief in Mark 1. Peter s rebuke, however, is temptation in the form of a trusted friend. Jesus is tempted to avoid suffering, rejection, and death; he is tempted to think that God s Kingdom means power without pain, glory without humiliation. This is Peter s human way of thinking. (Williamson, 153). In telling Satan to get behind me, Jesus is actually reminding Peter where disciples belong: behind Jesus after Jesus following Jesus. Disciples are not to guide, protect, or possess Jesus; they are to follow him. What Does Being a Disciple Mean? (v. 34-38) As we move toward the end of this passage, Jesus now teaches what it means to be a disciple: 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. (Mark 8:34-35) Reflection Question The disciples must have known that by following Jesus they were taking risks. The death of Jesus mentor, John the Baptist, will simply have confirmed that. But now Jesus began to teach them something new, implying that once they d declared that he was the Messiah, they d need to pick up their own cross (8:34). How can following Jesus be dangerous for us as well? Three lessons for those of us who hope to become Christ s disciples: Discipleship is for all. Interestingly, the private conversation with the disciples is now open to all. I think we hear the word disciple and think That s the advanced course. That s for folks who are really serious about this God-thing. This scripture tells us he calls the crowd. He teaches everyone what being a disciple is all about. Discipleship is being united with Jesus on His mission. Initially, the disciples followed Jesus on a sunny day by the sea of Galilee. Now they must follow him to Jerusalem in the shadow of a cross. What Jesus accomplishes on the cross is painful, but it is voluntarily done for the redemption of others. This is the heart of what it means to deny one s self. It is to join Jesus in redemptive activity for others. Discipleship is a journey that involves a fully committed heart right from the start. So many people are close, and yet they are so far away. Following Jesus requires a fully committed heart. A partial commitment is no commitment at all: Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel, will save it. Losing oneself for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a complete commitment.
Reflection Question This passage makes it clear that following Jesus is the only way to go. Following Jesus is, more or less, Marks definition of what being a Christian means; and Jesus is not leading us on a pleasant afternoon hike, but on a walk into danger and risk. How have you seen in your life and in others lives the truth that if you want to save your life, you ll lose it; but if you lose your life because of me and the Message you ll save it? Pastor Mark s takeaway - May I confess something to you? I m close, and yet, I m so far away. Some days I feel like good soil, and other days, I m as shallow as can be. Jesus instructions are to daily pick up our cross and follow him. This is a journey, and until we arrive at the house, I pray that the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit would help me to live this confession of the Apostle Paul: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) How many of you are close, and yet, so far away?