Last Sunday was a bit different!
Nevertheless, it was good to “gather” & consider Mark 8:31-9:1 together.
There are few passages more central to the mission of Jesus & more central to the call of his disciples than this one.
If you weren’t able to watch/listen yet, you can watch the video here or listen here.
INTRODUCTION
“The cross is laid on every Christian. . . . When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Main point: If you are going to follow Jesus, you must follow him to the cross.
1. The King must take up the cross.
“O Lord, raise up their king, the son of David, that he may reign over Israel thy servant. Gird him with strength that he might shatter unrighteous rulers, that he might purge Jerusalem from nations that trample her to destruction. With a rod of iron he shall break in pieces all their substance, he shall destroy the godless nation with the word of his mouth. He shall gather together a holy people, whom he shall lead in righteousness.” Psalms of Solomon
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2:22-23
“For Peter, the indication that the Son of man will die is unthinkable. For Jesus, it is inevitable.” Ralph Martin
2. All who follow the King must take up the cross.
“There is no one who in his heart of hearts does not imagine he deserves to outrank everyone else. Thus each person, in his own way, fondly nurses an entire kingdom in his heart.” John Calvin
“To take up your cross does not mean to move forward with courage despite the fact you lost your job or your spouse. It means you are under sentence of death; you taking up the horizontal cross-member on your way to the place of crucifixion. You have abandoned all hope of life in this world. And then, Jesus says, and only then, are we ready to follow him.” D.A. Carson
“Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38
“Christian homes in general, and Christian marriages in particular, would be more stable and more satisfying if they were marked by the cross.” John Stott
3. All who take up the King’s cross will be welcomed into his kingdom.
“I believe I am not mistaken in saying that Christianity is a demanding and serious religion. When it is delivered as easy and amusing, it is another kind of religion altogether.” Neil Postman