Marks of Christian discipleship #1

February 28, 2021 (Sunday)

 

Jesus made four “if you want to be my disciple” statements. Let’s look at one of them today.

 

In Mark 8:34 Jesus stated, “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.” [ESV] A “disciple” is a follower or someone who “would come after me.”

 

What Jesus is asking for is two significant things. First, Jesus said, the one who wants to be His disciple must “deny himself.”  The problem with our culture is it is instinctively selfish. Doing the right thing because it is right, despite the consequences, is considered unacceptable. Especially when the culture disagrees with “the right thing.”

 

The second thing Jesus asks is to “take up his cross.” The idea here is the willingness to lay down our lives. The world cannot overcome people who value their Lord and His message more than their lives. Imagine dealing with Paul who’s life’s philosophy was, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” [Philippians 1:21 ESV]

 

Jesus continued the line of reasoning, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” [Mark 8:35 ESV] The truth is we tend to value what does not last. We chase things that cost us our lives, drain our energy, and leaves us at the mercy the latest winds.

 

The reasoning is fairly simple, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” [Mark 8:36 ESV] Do you really want that temporary pleasure and forfeit your soul? That’s the deal the devil makes. Enjoy today with hell to pay later. But what is the profit in it? Absolutely none.

 

Jesus continues, “For what can a man give in return for his soul?” [Mark 8:38 ESV] If a person has forfeited their soul, how can it be redeemed? How can it be bought back? The truth is the individual has no possibility of redeeming a forfeited soul. Only one can pay the acceptable price… His name is Jesus.

 

And now Jesus gets to the point. “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.” [Mark 8:38 ESV] There are those who are ashamed of their connection with Jesus.

 

This shame causes us to be “secret Christians.” We blend in to our environment, like chameleons, fearful that someone might discover our connection to Jesus. Or maybe we acknowledge Jesus but hold it close, play it like vanilla, and keep it low key. We become unassuming and apologetic of our faith. Despite the offense of the gospel, we shut up and fade into the wall at critical moments.

 

Unfortunately there is a principle of reciprocity. If we are ashamed of Jesus in this world, Jesus is going to be ashamed of us before God the Father. Imagine the one who paid for your redemption with His blood being ashamed of you.

 

God forbid.