Grasping who Jesus is will radically change the trajectory of your life.
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.” —Mark 8:27-29
Peter called Jesus the Messiah, but imagined a throne, not a cross.
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.” —Mark 8:31-33
Jesus’ suffering was ultimately so that we would not suffer forever.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”… —Galatians 3:13
Real life is found, not in trying to save your life, but in losing it for Christ’s sake.
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? —Mark 8:34-37
When we only embrace the Conquering Messiah, but not the Suffering Servant…
- We pursue comfort over character.
- We become consumers of Jesus, not followers.
- We lose sight of the mission to reach lost people.
How God corrects our vision…
- Set your mind on the things of God, not on the things of this world. (v.33)
- Lose your life in Christ to gain real life. (v.35)
- Saturate your heart in the Word of God. (v.38)
Only when we see the cross rightly, can we follow Jesus fully.
Discipleship Guide
Let’s Talk About It
The disciples have been with Jesus since the beginning of His ministry. They’ve heard His teaching and seen Him perform miracles. Now they see Jesus heal a blind man in two stages– first partially, then fully. Jesus is not only physically healing a blind man, He’s also teaching the disciples about their own spiritual blindness. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, but He doesn’t understand Jesus’ mission. Jesus responds by revealing that true discipleship is a call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. We, too, can be a lot like Peter. We want a Jesus who fits our expectations – but Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah who must suffer, be rejected, die and rise – and He calls us to follow Him on His terms, not ours.
Mark 8:22-38; Galatians 3:13
Discussion questions:
Which part of the message impacted or challenged you?
Read Mark 8:22-26. Why do you think Jesus healed the blind man in two stages? What might that reveal about how we come to understand who Jesus is?
Read Mark 8:27-30. Peter rightly declares that Jesus is the Christ—but he misunderstands Jesus’ mission. In what ways do we sometimes do the same?
Read Mark 8:31-33. Why do you think Peter struggled to accept that Jesus would suffer and die? How do we sometimes resist uncomfortable parts of God’s plan?
Read Mark 8:34-38. What does “denying yourself and taking up your cross” look like in a culture that constantly tells us to “be yourself” and “follow your heart”? What would it look like for you to “lose your life for the sake of Christ and the gospel” in your everyday life?
Is there something you feel Jesus is asking you to surrender to follow Him more fully? If so, what is it and what steps do you need to take?
Take a Step
- Take an intentional step to deny yourself and follow Jesus. It could be letting go of your pride in a conversation, serving someone in need, giving up a comfort to spend more time with God, or speaking up about your faith.
Here’s My Prayer
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You clearly and follow You fully. Help me let go of anything that keeps me from surrendering to You. Give me courage to take up my cross and live for what truly matters. In Jesus’ name, amen.