Sermon text: Mark 8:27-38
Outline
To be a disciple of Jesus, you must understand who Jesus is (27-30)
To be a disciple of Jesus, you must understand what Jesus came to do (31-33)
To be a disciple of Jesus, you must understand what Jesus requires (34-35)
If you reject Jesus, you will pay an invaluable price (36-38)
Summary
In this text, Jesus tells us what it means to be a Christian, or a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you do not understand or embrace what is taught here, you should not call yourself a Christian. In America, we have it pretty easy as Christians but this is not the case in many parts of the world. In Mark 8:27-38, Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship. What will it cost us to follow him?
In the text, I see three conditions of discipleship and a warning to those who refuse to follow Christ.
First, to be a disciple, you must understand who Jesus is (Mark 9:27-30). The most important question you will ever answer in your life is, “Who is Jesus?” Jesus is not simply a good man, a moral teacher, or a prophet. Jesus was (and is) the all-powerful Christ and the very Son of God.
Second, to be a disciple, you must understand what Jesus came to do (Mark 9:31-33). Jesus is the glorious Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14) but he is also the Suffering Servant (Isa 52-53). The disciples refused to believe that Jesus had to die on the cross as a ransom for sins (Mark 10:45) despite him telling them this plainly (v. 32). To be a disciple, you must understand the necessity of Christ’s death as a substitution for your sin.
Third, to be a disciple of Jesus, you must understand what Jesus requires (Mark 9:34-35). This is where the rubber meets the road. We tend to think of “cross carrying” Christians as pastors or missionaries. But Jesus says, ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (v. 34). Some people think that to become a Christian is to add Jesus to your life. In reality, becoming a Christian means that you reorient your entire life around Jesus. He becomes the center of your life. You live for his kingdom and submit to his kingly rule and you are willing to suffer and even die for him (Phil 1:29).
And finally, if you reject Jesus, you will pay an invaluable price (Mark 9:36-38). Jesus says that if you try to save your life (e.g. living for yourself) you will lose it. But if you lose your life for the sake of Jesus and his gospel, then you will save it. Jesus warns the crowd about gaining the whole world and losing your own soul. Jesus also warns against living for the approval of others. He told the crowd that if they were ashamed of him then he would be ashamed of them at his coming (v. 38).
I encourage you to listen to the whole sermon. For most Christians living in America, it may be the most important sermon I’ve ever preached.
Verses Referenced
John 3:30; 1 John 2:6