By: Pastor Rick Smith

In a few weeks we will celebrate Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, but before the resurrection Jesus had to die on the cross. This was the plan of God and that plan is from eternity (Revelation 13:8). So, lets take a look at what took place during Jesus ministry when He began telling His disciples about His death on the cross. So we will confine ourselves to one gospel, the gospel of Mark, to follow Jesus on His road to Calvary. Our passage for today is Mark 8:31-38. Just to get the context in the same chapter in verses 22 through 30 we have the story of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ. In Matthews 16:18, Jesus praises Peter for recognizing that He is the Christ. “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” I am sure that Peter was very proud of himself and the fact that Jesus commended him only made him prouder.

At this time, in the timing of God the Father, Jesus began to teach the disciples that He was going to die and rise again. “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly.” (Mark 8:31-32a). Jesus didn’t use parables, nor stories, nor any other type of illustration. He spoke to them in plain language so that they would have no excuse but understand what he was saying. I do believe that the rising again part of that message was overlooked by Peter and the apostles. “And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.” (Mark 8:32b). I think that the reason so many Christians can identify with Peter is because of his carnal humanity. No one could doubt that Peter loved Jesus and was committed to Him. But Peter had to learn a lesson that most of us also must learn. We follow Jesus. We don’t command Him. It is Jesus Who is Lord. “But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” (Mark 8:33). Peter was not Satan, but he was at that moment a pawn of Satan. We, like Peter, don’t think God’s thoughts, neither do we understand the mind of the Lord. We think carnally, often just like those that are unregenerate.

What Peter did had influence over those that heard him. “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). Jesus gathered His disciples and the crowd of people nearby to hear His response to Peter’s rebuke. If you desire to be a follower of Jesus, then you must go all the way with Him. You must deny your own personal and fleshly desires, take up your cross, and follow Jesus wherever He is leading. For Peter, the apostles, and those various disciples that had gathered to Jesus, it meant giving up their own ideas and desires to follow Jesus. And it would mean that they might literally have to take up the cross and die for Jesus. It meant for them what it means for us. We have to deny ourselves, take upon ourselves the death penalty, and die with and for Jesus. Someone has said that the martyrs blood is the seeds of the spread of the gospel. What are you willing to give up to follow Jesus?

Salvation is free, but discipleship costs. You have a choice. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35). Many who appeared so committed to Christ, have denied Him when the cost was too high for them to pay. Some later returned and gave all up for Jesus, dying for His name. Others, turned their back on Jesus for the love of this world and by so doing that lost it all. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Jesus takes it personal when you don’t love and trust Him enough to deny yourself and follow Him. Are you ashamed of Jesus? “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38). Jesus stood up for the martyr Stephen and He stood by Paul and He sent an angel to set Peter free. These denied themselves, took up the cross, and followed Jesus. Will you take up your cross and follow Him?

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday. Worship at 10:50 A.M. We are located at 711 West Washington Ave. Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541. Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Smith is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.