Monday: The Cost of Discipleship
Daily Lesson for Monday 12th of August 2024
Read Mark 8:31-38. What does Jesus teach here about the cost of following Christ?
The disciples have come to a crucial turning point in their relationship with Jesus. They now know that He is the Messiah. The reader of Mark has known this from the beginning of the book (Mark 1:1) and thus has had an advantage over the sometimes bumbling disciples.
Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com
When Jesus first called the disciples, He said He would make them fishers of men (Mark 1:17). There was no talk of trouble. But now that they really know who He is, He unfolds to them the goal of His mission—that it is necessary for Him to suffer many things, to be rejected and killed, and then to rise again after three days.
It is shocking news. Peter, who just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, takes Him aside and rebukes Him for saying such things. All of this was told in indirect discourse, but now the Gospel writer reports the words of Jesus, words that must have stung as Peter heard them. He calls Peter “Satan” and tells him to get out of His way since such thoughts are not in accord with the will of God.
“Peter’s words were not such as would be a help and solace to Jesus in the great trial before Him. They were not in harmony with God’s purpose of grace toward a lost world, nor with the lesson of self-sacrifice that Jesus had come to teach by His own example.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 415.
Followers of Jesus are called to have the same goal He has—to take the cross and to follow Him. Crucifixion was the most cruel, humiliating, and intimidating method of execution that the Romans had. Everyone wanted to avoid the cross. So, why would anyone want to take up the cross as a symbol of their devotion to Jesus?
Jesus explains not only the cost of discipleship but also its great value. In the paradox of Christian faith, losing one’s life becomes the way to find it. In contrast, gaining the whole world but forfeiting eternal life is nonsensical. As missionary Jim Elliott put it so eloquently in his journal of October 28, 1949: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
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“ ‘He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life’ ” (John 12:25, NKJV). How have you experienced the reality of these words? |
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It takes a while for bad news to sink in. Earlier this year I had back problems and could only walk about 100m before I had to sit down and wait for the pain to subside. Then I had several procedures on my back that resulted in freedom from pain. Carmel and I decided we would go on a 4-week driving trip to Queensland to photograph birds. We looked forward to this and had stocked up the campervan ready for the trip. We had our annual medical checkup that oldies need to have and I got called in to see the doctor. To cut the story short, I was diagnosed with cancer and our planned trip was not going to happen. That news was very hard to take. It wasn't just the trip but all the other life-changing events that I now had to look forward to and endure. I had to adapt to a very differnt future to the one I had envisaged.
The disciples, and Peter in particular had come to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. They were looking forward to the Jewish fulfilment of prophecy where they would boot the Romans out and establish an earthly kingdom. They were going to be in the box seat and would probably have positions of power and influence in the Kingdom of God.
Then Jesus, their Messiah, told them about suffering, persecution, and death. This is not what they wanted to hear. Enthusiastic Peter would have none of it. He wanted his vision of the Messiah to be fulfilled. Jesus had to apply the shock treatment. He calls Peter, Satan, and tells him that he has no idea how God works.
I think Peter did not really get the message until after the crucifixion. We see him swiping around with a sword at Jesus arrest, hanging around the edges of the trials, and ultimately stumbling into the darkness still not fully comprehending what was going on. And then he goes back to his old job of fishing, where Jesus calls him again. I think that is where Peter finally understood what the Kingdom of God was all about.
Peter's story is an inspiration. He thought he was on a roll with this Messiah thing, but he had so much more to learn and some of it was pretty painful. He had to unlearn so much.
What do we have to unlearn?
Thank you for this inspiration. It only makes me to pray, "Lord teach me the truth, and the truth shall set me free."
I can only imagine...if anyone at any point in the discipleship walk of Peter had asked him, "Peter, do you know the Saviour?" he would most likely have given a very confident yes, but little did he realize how much grip the enemy of souls had on him.
I'm sorry, Maurice, to hear of your cancer diagnosis. I pray that God will heal you according to His will.
I must respectfully disagree with the lesson author and with your statement that Jesus called Peter Satan. Although Jesus was addressing Peter, he was also addressing Satan himself. Ellen White makes it clear in this statement.
"When Christ revealed to Peter the time of trial and suffering that was just before Him, and Peter replied, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee,” the Saviour commanded, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Satan was speaking through Peter, making him act the part of the tempter. Satan’s presence was unsuspected by Peter, but Christ could detect the presence of the deceiver, and in His rebuke to Peter He addressed the real foe. . . .
Satan’s work was to discourage Jesus as He strove to save the depraved race, and Peter’s words were just what he wished to hear. They were opposed to the divine plan; and whatever bore this stamp of character was an offense to God. They were spoken at the instigation of Satan. . . . [He] hoped they would discourage and dishearten Christ; but Christ addressed the author of the thought, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” "—Ellen G. White Comments, in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1095.
Notice, "in His rebuke to Peter He addressed the real foe..."
"Christ addressed the author of the thought", and the author was Satan himself.
While the words and name were meant for Satan, they were fired within the hearing range of Peter and the other disciples. They had a selfish concept of the Messiah and this lesson had to be unlearned before they became true followers of Jesus. The relationship between self and Satan is a close one and I am sure if we examine our own hearts we will still find elements of selfishness in our understanding of the Gospel.
Please be sure to click on the Desire of Ages link, and continue reading; you will learn Christ was indeed speaking to Satan--not Peter!
For Satan to tempt someone,he base on the evil seed that's in that person... Peter's thought about the Messiah were not true hence satan used them to rule his life and he became his master that moment.
Maurice, thank you for making yourself vulnerable and sharing your personal journey. Let's all pray for and lift up our brother.
It's hard when we encounter a detour on the highway of life. It can shatter the idyllic "snow globe" vision that we have of our life. It feels like a gut punch.
I'm sure that Peter experienced that type of thing when Jesus rebuked him. He probably had the Messianic administration planned out in his mind thinking earthly kingdom incoming. Then to hear Jesus say that it wasn't going to be the way Peter thought must have been a shock to him. Jesus knew that Satan had planted the thought of Jesus avoiding the cross in Peter's mind, thus he rebuked Satan working in and through Peter.
How often are we surprised by the unexpected twists, turns, and detours in life? We shouldn't be though because Jesus assures us that in this life we WILL, have tribulation. We will have unpleasant surprises and disappointments. However He didn't stop there with just the bad news, He followed it up with an admonition to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world, implying that He will share that victory with us so that we too will overcome whatever the evil one throws our way.
We are admonished to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. It's not a velvet lined cross either. It's a rough sawn, heavy, chafing cross.
The words of a hymn come to mind, "Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go". Anywhere?! Yes anywhere, even to Calvary.
The words of another song come into my mind, "Take up Your Cross" sung by the Brooklynn Tabernacle choir, has often encouraged my soul.
"Take up your cross, follow Jesus
Take up your cross every day
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross, follow Him
What are you doing for the King?
Have you really given everything
To the One who gave His all for you?
Now, don't you be satisfied just to know
That the Lord has saved your soul
Have you forgotten what you need to do, to do?
Take up your cross, follow Jesus
Take up your cross every day
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross, follow Him
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross, follow Him
Well, I know sometimes the road is long
And I know sometimes you feel like you can't go on
But you can make it, you just
Take up your cross, follow Jesus
Take up your cross every day
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross, follow Him
Take up your cross, follow Jesus
Take up your cross every day
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross and follow Him
Don't be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross
Count the cost, take up your cross
Count the cost, take up your cross
Follow Him"
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Steve Millikan / Ray Boltz / Jane Johannson Knoedler
Take Up Your Cross lyrics © Sonworshipers Music, Shepherd Boy Music
"Count the cost, take up your cross and follow Him."
Indeed, martyred missionary, Jim Elliot's words ring true even today; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
Francis Chan, in his book _Letters to the Church_, writes, "A believer from a house church in Iran (who can't be named for obvious reasons) explained the people who want to join the church have to sign a written statement agreeing to lose their property, be thrown in jail, and be martyred for their faith." The church in Iran may be growing faster than anywhere else in the world.
Should our evangelists do that?
The Olympic Games just closed with a revealing spectacle. I want to ask those who watched this event: “Did you see the spirit of this world working on the hearts and minds of all these young people assembled to celebrate the 'Olympic spirit'"? Dignitaries of the 'Olympic Games' declared that it is imperative that the games continue as it expresses the 'Olymic spirit' which can unite all cultures - and everyone cheered in agreement.
Today's lesson of Peter rebuking Jesus shows me how dangerously cunning the spirit of this world is. I am certain Peter meant well, but Jesus needed to rebuke the spirit which prompted Peter to feel, think and act the way he did. The spirit of this world appears to be benevolent, wanting to bring about peace and goodwill as it claims to unite all people. I see this same spirit present in Peter rebuking Jesus; his desire was for Jesus to bring about peace and prosperity to his countrymen.
The world's spirit's deception is so subtle, so cunning, mirroring sooo closely the Truth of God’s Word, that it entraps without noticing as one is lead further and further away from God’s Holy Spirit of Truth and Light. The Christian knows that only God inspires a lasting brotherhood among mankind which is able to bridge all cultural differences and making of no consequence the individual’s place of birth and its upbringing.
I pray that those hearing the lie will want to hear the Truth our beloved Savior Jesus Christ offers freely. Yes, we carry our 'cross', but it is made 'light' with His help. No need to compete, no new records need to be set, no one enters the race with any type of advantage. Whatever station in life our Savior meets us, that becomes the starting line for the most important race man ever enters.
The athletes focus and train all their life to become the best in their discipline; it takes tremendous dedication! Totally unprepared, the Christian starts from nothing when joining Jesus Christ; everything gained is the reward of steadfast faith. This born-again Life receives training in love, repentance, faith, and gratitude - the reward of the Holy Spirit of Eternal Life - Heb.12:1-2.
Amen
Amen..
I have quick question regarding last lession.
in E.W White's writings, a Canaanite woman is listed as the representative. Is there any evidence that she was actually a member of the aristocratic /noble class?
If she was of noble birth, then her act of kneeling down and begging Jesus, who looked like a commoner, would have been a huge & shocking incident in that area. It seems to have laid the foundation for their missionary work to other nations. I'd like to ask your short comment ..
(The Desire of Ages DA400.2)
He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done
The comments that I have read so far indicate that Peter's statement originated in a misunderstanding of the Messiah's role and also from a selfish desire to get rid of the Romans and possibly have an important role in the new kingdom. There was probably some of this involved, but I think that it could be that Peter's main desire was to protect Jesus from the things that He said were coming. Peter loved Jesus, albeit in a broken way, and did not want to see Him suffer and die. Jesus Himself did not want to suffer and die. He prayed that God would save Him from this if at all possible. His desire to obey God and save others was stronger than His desire to escape torture and humiliation. I think that He was now beginning to steel Himself for the coming conflict. He needed someone to stand beside Him, to support Him in His role as the Savior. Peter's comment did the opposite.