Mark 8:31-38 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter.“Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Personal Insights
When you read this section of scripture it is so counter cultural. We see Peter struggling with the words of Jesus and straight out rebukes Jesus for what He said. Wow the audacity of Peter to rebuke the Son of God. Jesus’s words to Peter are strong. “Get behind me Satan…” When we go against the Word of God we open up the door to Satan.
I wonder if we could see what each other are thinking if they would be the things of God or the things of men. If you wrote down each thought that went through your head today would the majority of your thoughts be related to God or to men? A scary thought.
“Peter is a perfect example of how a sincere heart coupled with man's thinking can often lead to disaster” (Guzik)
Jesus is very direct in what He has to say to the crowd. Who is number one in your life? Is it Jesus or yourself? Jesus is saying that we must deny ourselves and put Him first. We must give up selfishness and pride and focus on things that are eternal. How often we strive after the things of this world and yet Jesus says when we do this we forfeit our own soul. Strong words from the Son of God to the people of this world.
"Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities. But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will." (Wiersbe)
I wonder if we could see what each other are thinking if they would be the things of God or the things of men. If you wrote down each thought that went through your head today would the majority of your thoughts be related to God or to men? A scary thought.
“Peter is a perfect example of how a sincere heart coupled with man's thinking can often lead to disaster” (Guzik)
Jesus is very direct in what He has to say to the crowd. Who is number one in your life? Is it Jesus or yourself? Jesus is saying that we must deny ourselves and put Him first. We must give up selfishness and pride and focus on things that are eternal. How often we strive after the things of this world and yet Jesus says when we do this we forfeit our own soul. Strong words from the Son of God to the people of this world.
"Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities. But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will." (Wiersbe)
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