Making a Mark - The Cost

Main Point: Accepting salvation is a free gift, but there is always a cost to following Jesus.

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. —Mark 8:27-30

The ultimate question that each of us must answer in our own life is “Who do I say that Jesus is?”

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. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 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.” —Mark 8:31-33

When we try to redirect the power of Jesus from his real mission to our own human desires, we are no longer concerned with the work of God.

When 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. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. —Mark 8:34-35

Denying ourselves and taking up our cross means living a life where we view others as more valuable than ourselves.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 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.” —Mark 8:36-38

Following Jesus humbly and sacrificially is the only way we will ever find the life that is truly life.

“If following Christ has never cost you anything, you’re not following him.” —Tim Conway

Takeaway: Even if it costs you everything, follow Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is Jesus? How would you describe him to someone who had never heard of him? What does your life say about who you really believe Jesus to be?
2. Have you ever been guilty, as Peter was, of trying to redirect the power of Jesus from his real mission to your own human desires?
3. Do you struggle with viewing others as more valuable than yourself? Or is that something that comes naturally to you? How do you think someone can grow in this area?

Table Discussion Question: Is there a time in your life when you made a decision to accept the free gift of salvation offered to you by Jesus? Looking back at your life since then, what has your decision to follow Christ cost you? If you have not yet made that decision, what is holding you back? Can you believe God’s word that you stand to gain more than following Jesus will cost you? (Mark 8:35)