JULY 22, 2023 –  LOSING AND SAVING

READ: Mark 8:27-38

… Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. … but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. – Mark 8:34,35

Peter gives a beautiful confession in response to Jesus’ question – who do you say that I am? – “You are the Christ!” But they must not speak of this to anyone, for fear of inciting a wrong reaction. The disciples themselves also must not draw wrong conclusions, as if He as the Messiah-King will establish a new earthly kingdom.

Therefore, Jesus now openly announces His path of reconciling suffering and death for the first time. He will be killed by the leaders of Israel. But He will also rise from the dead. Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man, referring to Dan. 7:13.

This is a crushing message for the disciples. They can not imagine this. Immediately, Peter objects: he takes Jesus aside and says that this will not happen. But the Lord sees how dangerous this reaction is. Satan is at work here. He looks at all the disciples and rebukes Peter, saying: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are not thinking from God’s perspective, but from a human point of view.”

In the eyes of people, suffering and dying on a cross is the worst thing imaginable. This path of suffering is a stumbling block for humans (1 Cor.1:18,24). But Jesus says that this unique path is the one that God is leading Him on. But if you want to follow Me, you too will have to carry a cross because of Me and the Gospel. You will have to deny yourself, testify of Me, and even be willing to lose your life. But then you will receive the victory: eternal life in glory. But if you are not prepared to lose your life as a follower of Jesus Christ, you will not be saved. But look at the glory that awaits you if you give up the temporary earthly life!

Can you identify choices that caused you to suffer for the sake of Jesus?

Singing Ps. 5:8