A Costly Choice. Mark 8:34-35.
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
Dear Saints,
The paradox of following Jesus is in every step the disciples take with him. But now Jesus states it clearly so that people can count the cost. Of course, the cost has to be pitted against the benefits, and those are incomparable to anything the world can offer.
Desire (v. 34a). There has been enough interest in following Jesus already, to warrant some guidelines. Some people found his teaching fascinating, others were drawn to him by his character, yet others found his miracles irresistible, while many wanted to follow him because he could feed the crowds and they wanted in. Then there were those who had vested their political hopes in him. The desire to follow Jesus was widely distributed among the people, the motives notwithstanding.
Decision (v. 34b). Self-denial is not something that comes easy. We tend to cling to our personal interests, sometimes to the exclusion of better things. Jesus says to follow him, one must give up self-interest and yield to the purpose Jesus has for one’s life. Not only that, but one has to take up one’s cross. The cross was a symbol of suffering and death. It was the means of execution for criminals and insurrectionists. Jesus calls us to a life of suffering! Only with the cross on one’s shoulders can one follow Jesus. Following means learning from and imitating a person. We must be prepared to become like Jesus.
Distinction (v. 35). The paradox of giving up one’s life to follow Jesus is that one gains one’s life in the end. The converse is also true, that those who choose to save their lives instead of surrendering them to Christ and his cause end up losing them. There is no alternative to Jesus. Surrender to him is the only reasonable choice. Have you made your choice?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.