Mark 8:27-38 (ESV)

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 34 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. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 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.”

Intro: When are predictions keenly helpful?

DISTORTED EXPECTATIONS
How is suffering a daunting mystery?

GOD’S RESOLUTE PLAN OF LOVE
How did Jesus work against our twisted expectations?

AND THE PREVAILING HOPE
Even through all of Jesus’ predictions of anguish, how is there still hope?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD for His trustworthiness, especially in the face of all the world’s promises that are never kept. Praise God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit that He can be trusted to keep His Word even to His own hurt.

2 - How have you sought to live without ever having to suffer? Confess your fears and folly to Jesus, asking Him to not only forgive you but also to secure you, eternally changing your heart by His love.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His resolve to satisfy justice for sinners like us who have rebelled. And thank Him for His work through suffering and death to conquer death by first dying and then being raised to life.

4 - Who do you know that is baffled by God’s plan to work through death and resurrection? Pray for them, asking the Lord to open their eyes to the realities of evil and Jesus’ power to save them from their sin and unbelief.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight and confidence in Jesus’ promises to raise you to new life with Him. Pray for joy and hope in Jesus’ guarantee that we will be raised – and that He will resurrect us as He was resurrected.