Discipleship (PT 3) By Caleb Kolstad
Mark 8:34-35
We have been learning some amazing things lately. Jesus Christ was the greatest teacher who ever walked the face of this earth. Every word he said was perfect truth. Every action he did was perfect love. Everything he believed was consistent with the Heavenly Father’s perspective.
Jesus Christ (though fully man); was also fully God. Everything he did was according to God’s perfect will. Everything he said was according to God’s perfect revelation.
Much of what we’ve been talking about, I understand, is hard to believe. Jesus teaching, specifically concerning the subject of discipleship, was very convicting. So convicting in fact, that MANY of his “disciples” STOPPED following him because of what he taught concerning salvation:
Example: in John 6:60. ("unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood"). Jesus said total commitment was necessary in order to truly follow after Him.
Q1--> How did some of his followers respond,
“Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" (verse 60)
Shortly thereafter, Jesus gives a statement that reflects his belief in the sovereignty of God (notice John 6:65).
And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."
These were difficult teachings to understand. They were even more difficult teachings to apply.
So John 6:66 tells us, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.”
They jumped off the Jesus band wagon. They stopped believing in Him. They decided following Him required way too much commitment and personal sacrifice.
The Gospel that Jesus proclaimed is “Hard to Believe.” My former Pastor, John MacArthur recently wrote a book with this very title. “Hard to Believe: the High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus.”
Turn in your Bibles to Mark 8:34-38;
34 And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.
36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
37 "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
This was the profound message of Jesus Christ’s.
Remember this teaching (in Mark 8) is God’s Word, not some pastor’s opinion. Lordship salvation is the GOSPEL According to Jesus. (Jesus IS Lord. You confess him as Lord (Rom 10:9) and you yield to that reality. You do not make Him Lord, for He is the LORD!)
In his new book, Pastor MacArthur writes the following:
“Deny yourself? Take up a Cross? Who wants to do that?
Yet that’s what Jesus requires of you and me and everyone else who would follow him.
The message of some ‘Christian’ rock concerts, stadium rallies, youth events, and seeker-sensitive services--- Jesus Loves You! (He has a wonderful plan for your life) Jesus is great! (He wants to fulfill all your dreams)--- advances the thought that being a Christian is lots of fun.
That message promotes an easy believism that only scratches the surface in explaining the all-encompassing power and authority of Christ.
The sacrifice required to follow Him; And the reward of eternal life that results.”
Friends, I am trying very hard NOT to mix my opinion with the perfect gospel truth found only in God’s Word.
My goal is that we’ll simply understand the teachings of Jesus in regards to discipleship.
This should help all of us in evaluating our own lives; so we can be totally certain of our salvation.
Let’s look more closely at Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34
34 And He summoned the multitude with His disciples.
Jesus had just told his 12 disciples that He Himself needed to suffer and die on the Cross (in vv 27-33).
This msg. was shocking to Jesus’ companions. They envisioned there Messiah overthrowing Rome and setting up an earthly Kingdom. They did not realize the OT predicted Messiah had to suffer (Is 53) before He could reign (2 Sam 7:16; Psalm 2:8; Is 11:9; Acts 1:8, Rev 20)! Read what Jesus said after His resurrection in Luke 24:25-27.
Now our Lord wants everyone to understand another important Lesson here. So he calls everyone and gathers them around him
{Illustration: My Dad’s famous whistle used to summon us kids.}
and Jesus said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me,
If any of you wants to be a disciple of mine;
If any of you want to be a “Christian”
If any of you want to follow after Me…
THEN please listen carefully:
1. The first thing you need to do is “DENY YOURSELF” (v. 34)
The word deny means “to refuse to associate with”
If you want to be Christ’s disciple you must refuse to associate with the person you are. In other words, you have to acknowledge the fact you’re an unworthy sinner and repent accordingly.
Turn completely from your former way of living ='s (equals) repentance
2. The second thing you need to do is to “Take Up Your Cross” (v. 34)
In Jesus time, people only thought of one thing when heard the word “Cross” A cross was an instrument of torture and death!! Jesus was calling every potential disciple to CONSIDER THE COST before following Him. Following after Jesus could require you give up your physical life!
(Illustration: a martyrs death; or dying like BJ)
Again, these are Jesus’ words NOT mine. As we’ve said numerous times before
Self-Denial + Daily Bearing a Cross =’s Following Jesus
(verse 34) “And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
In case anyone did not understand what he meant in verse 34, Jesus clarifies Himself in verse 35.
"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it. (v. 35)
Committing yourself to Jesus’ Lordship means you’re under new ownership now.
You have a new Boss! A new Master! A new King! A New Allegiance!
According to Mark 8:35, coming to Jesus means surrendering everything.. (You know the song, “I surrender all, all to Him I owe”)
This is the famous “Death/Life” paradox that Jesus constantly talks about (for more information on this see Dr Thomas' book "Who am I").
-a paradox is something that appears to be a contradiction.
Jesus taught us the following truth: “The gospel is totally free (explain); but it will cost you everything! (explain)”
Q3--> What does it mean to be a Christian according to Mark 8:34-38?
(a) Devoting oneself fully to Christ
(b) Giving oneself to others
(c) Committing oneself to the gospel (both defending and proclaiming it)
True Christianity is about a continuing relationship with Jesus Christ (follow Him is in the present tense)
Following Jesus, means we’ll experience many trials on the path to heaven
(see 2 Tim 3:12). "All who desire to live godly will be persecuted."
But eternal life is more valuable then anything else. It is more important then everything. It is worth going through anything. (see Luke 16:19-31 for more on this eternal reversal).
Which is why Jesus concludes his teaching in verses 36-38
36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
37 "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
This is the “high cost and infinite value” of following after Jesus!
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