Study inMark’s Gospel

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The Path Of Discipleship

Chap 8v27-9v1Presentation 27

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IntroductionDietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who died in a Nazi concentration camp. His death was the culmination of his active rejection of, and opposition to, all that the Nazi movement stood for. On his way to his death did Bonhoeffer recall words he had written earlier, "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die". Jesus’ teaching in this passage makes many of us feel uncomfortable. Its meaning is often misunderstood. But it is not a misunderstanding but an all too clear understanding of Jesus' meaning that has produced the greatest discomfort.

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A Fresh TemptationJesus' teaching must be placed in context. We have noted that the disciples saw, with increasing spiritual clarity, who Jesus was; 'You are the Christ ['the Son of the living God]’. This confession forms a turning point in Jesus’ dealings with his disciples. Jesus now begins to explain his mission in greater detail, 'He began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer' v31. It is important not only to see who Jesus is but why he came. They needed to recognise that the role of the Messiah was quite different from what they had imagined. They had thought that the kingdom of God would be ushered in with power and majesty and glory. Jesus taught that it would come in through rejection, humiliation and shame- through the cross!

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This teaching was more than the disciples could bear. And Peter, who often did and said what the others felt like doing and saying, reacted very violently. The text reads, ‘Peter took Jesus aside' but this doesn't do justice to the force of the original, which implies Peter laid hold of Jesus' cloak pulling him back. Peter was going to talk some sense into Jesus! No wonder Jesus' response was so severe. 'Get behind me Satan!'

The man who minutes previously had his eyes opened by God to see who Jesus was, has now become the unwitting puppet of Satan.

A Fresh Temptation

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Satan had attempted to keep Jesus from fulfilling his Father's will, which was obedient suffering upon the cross, during the wilderness temptation! Here Satan is still attempting to deflect Jesus from the path of costly obedience and self-denial by using one of his closest friends. Jesus recognised that Peter spoke as he did because he had grasped the implications of Jesus’ suffering. Peter was concerned about himself and did not want to travel down the path of suffering. Clearly, discipleship was something that Jesus would need to spell out in great detail and this was the time to do it! Jesus makes three requirements of his followers and we will examine them in turn.

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Denying SelfWhat did Jesus mean by denying self?

1. Is he merely speaking of self-discipline?

2. Is this a call to deprive ourselves, for a limited time, of some of our cherished foods, possessions or pleasures - a kind of discipleship FAST AID programme?

3. Does Jesus mean we are to loathe our bodies and express that loathing by beating them or, by wearing hair shirts or, by sleeping on beds without mattresses?

All of these explanations are far too inadequate, and yet, this is how some in the church have attempted to explain these verses!

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Denying SelfTo what then is Jesus referring? We need to take as our starting point the creation of man. When God originally made man, he designed him to live in dependence upon himself. However, man's initial disobedience, in the Garden of Eden, changed all that. Instead, of remaining dependant upon God, he became independent and therefore self-centred.

Let me illustrate by asking, “Can a circle have two centres?” No! Only one. As a result of the Fall, man stopped being God-centred and became self-centred. The centre of gravity of his being changed. He took over the control room of his life. He became the centre of his world!

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Denying SelfThe New Oxford Dictionary requires 4 pages to describe this condition of man. Man is by nature full of self-interest, self-love, self-absorption, self seeking, self pity, self-assertion….. and so on. In this context to deny self means to deal with that in our lives, which it constantly crying out ‘Me first'. People can reveal their self-centredness in a number of ways. For example by their speech; they are often happiest when talking about themselves, their achievements, job, joys, hurts, possessions, reputations and so on, but they become bored when they cease to be the topic of interest. In the business of decision making they ask, 'What's in it for me, how can I benefit'.

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Denying SelfAll along the line our self-life is indulged, protected and preserved. To deny self means that we will no longer think that our plans are to be preferred to God's plans. We will stop thinking that we know better than God about how we should live our lives. Christ's kingdom will now come before self- interest.

Now that's a searching thought! How often does self-interest and self - indulgence prevent us from concerning ourselves with Christ’s kingdom? Do we find it more appealing to sink into a comfortable chair than involve ourselves in worship, in prayer, or to engage in the work of evangelism?

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Denying SelfIt is quite possible to live like this way while professing Jesus to be ‘Lord’ just as Peter did. But then the word ‘Lord’ will have a hollow ring to it. For in practice we have refused to hand over the complete control of our lives to him. We remain in charge of the world we see.

Notice that Jesus says, such a person cannot truly claim to be his disciple. The mark of the genuine disciple is death to self; it is the bending of the capital 'I' that everyone of us is born with. It is humbling our self under his mighty hand.

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Denying SelfYou may say, “I am not strong enough to bend this great 'I' in my life”. I agree you are not! None of us are! That is not the question which God puts to us. For it is not a question of willpower. God is not primarily concerned with the power of our will. He does not ask, 'Is he or she, strong enough to change?'

But he is concerned with the longing of our will. He asks, 'Do you want the great self-centred 'I' in your life bent for I am able to work with you to achieve that end. I can help you die to self.’

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Denying SelfPaul gives expression to what happens in the life of the believer when he writes, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.’ Gal.2v20.When Jesus calls us to deny self he is not robbing us of anything pleasant or, asking us to part with something that belongs to our essential nature. He's not forbidding us to express our essential personality but only to shed that evil inheritance from Adam which does not belong to our true selves. Of having the self-centred 'I' scored out of our lives.

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Taking Up The CrossThe second requirement of Jesus is that we take up our cross. Again, this phrase is greatly misunderstood. In describing their cross, people often speak of some physical illness, an awkward relative, a great financial constraint an oppressive government. Now all of these can be very real problems and I do not want to minimise them. But by no stretch of imagination are these things what Jesus intended by cross-bearing. Is it only Christians who have to cope with physical disabilities? Do only Christians have trouble from difficult relatives or oppressive governments? No of course not! However, the cross-bearing Jesus has in mind is something that is distinctively Christian.

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Taking Up The CrossToday the cross is a religious symbol placed as a decorative feature in our church buildings or worn as a piece of jewellery around our necks. But to the hearers in Jesus day it was a symbol of suffering and death – a bit like a hangman’s noose today!

In Roman times when you took up your cross you were leaving your former life behind you and going out to die. The cross-bearing of which Jesus spoke was in the first instance, a reference to the suffering he would endure in order to fulfil his Father's will. And so cross-bearing for the Christian will be the suffering which he experiences as he too seeks to obey God.

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Taking Up The CrossOn another occasion Jesus said to his disciples, 'In the world you will have tribulation,’ Jn. 16v33. Why? Because of their association with Jesus, 'If the world has hated me it will also hate you‘, 15v18. The world in which we live is not neutral. It has a value system that is totally opposed to God's. Therefore the world will ridicule and persecute those who align themselves with God. Are we therefore surprised to discover that Paul says, ‘I die daily' 1Cor.15v31. and again ' for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered‘, Rom. 8v36. Cross-bearing is suffering for Jesus sake and this will involve different things for different people.

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Taking Up The CrossThe sufferings which Christians are exposed to in the west is trivial in comparison believers elsewhere but it is no less real. It is not easy to face the ridicule and scorn of work-mates or to experience the misunderstanding and resentment of family or to be rejected by those who were our friends. Suffering for Jesus’ sake is what it means to take up the cross.You may be thinking, ‘I am not brave, I could not cope with suffering for Jesus’ sake’. Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish minister who suffered much for Jesus, wrote to fellow sufferers in these words, "The weightiest end of the cross of Christ which is laid upon you, lieth on a strong Saviour. "

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Following ChristThere is however, one important difference between the cross-bearing of a Roman prisoner and that of the disciple of Christ. The Roman prisoner carried his cross under duress, he would normally do anything to be free of it. But the Christian freely chooses the cross. We are not press-ganged into service and the third phrase Jesus uses reminds us of that 'If any man... follow me'. Christians are followers not unwilling prisoners. A. W. Tozer writes;“The Christian can refuse to take up his cross, or he can stoop and take it up and start for the dark hill. The difference between great sainthood and spiritual mediocrity depends upon which choice he makes.”

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Following ChristJesus does not call us to the impossible. Nor is he unaware of the cost which we require to pay. His obedience cost him dear. He speaks as one who has blazed the trail in cross-bearing, in this he is our example. He speaks as one who is our encourager in cross-bearing for we see the fruit of it is his own life beyond the cross lay the resurrection.

Beyond our crosses and the deaths we die there are glorious resurrections. But Jesus also speaks as one who is our enabler. He does not simply stand as a passive spectator in the stands cheering us on. He comes to us bringing his strength, his endurance, his joy equipping us for all that he has called us to.

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ConclusionNo one can sympathise like Jesus. No one can identify with our bruised and tender spirits as much as he. He is uniquely qualified to deal with all our fears and self doubts and to strengthen us to become disciples. He equips us to live fruitful lives which will press forward the boundaries of his kingdom.

Truly, ‘Christianity which costs nothing is worth nothing’. Is yours a cheap Christianity without a cross? Then beware, for Jesus makes it clear that Christianity without a cross is no Christianity at all. Will you turn away content merely to be a cross-wearer. Jesus calls you to follow him as a cross- bearer. Will take up your cross and follow him?