Jesus taught His disciples regarding the incompatible nature of following Him halfway. As He still calls us today, He is expecting us to abandon all this world has to offer for the greater treasure of knowing Him.
Mark 8:34-9:1
34 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.35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9:1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Directions (Mark 8:34)
- “Deny himself” – Saying yes to Jesus often means saying no to yourself.
- “Take up his cross” – Death to self is essential for life in Christ.
- “Follow me” – Following Jesus doesn’t mean He blesses my previously charted course.
Possessions (Mark 8:35-37)
- Attempting to protect my life is the most dangerous path of all.
- Prioritizing the world’s possessions endangers me of losing heaven’s rewards.
- Don’t waste your eternal soul on temporal pursuits.
Confessions (Mark 8:38-9:1)
- This sinful world seeks to shame us from boldly standing upon the ministry and message of Jesus.
- No heaven-bound citizen can be ashamed of the message it takes to get there.
- Since the Kingdom comes with power, we can go with assurance.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.