DENYING SELF TO FOLLOW JESUS

THE CAL TO FOLLOW JESUS AND DENY SELF

Mark 8:34-38

Then 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. 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.' (NIVUK)

After Jesus announced Himself as the suffering Christ (Mark 8:31), Peter rebuked Him but only to earn the worst critique this side of hell: 'Get behind me Satan' (Mark 8:32-33) .  Doubtless the other disciples were alarmed … if Peter could be so wrong, what hope had the others?  Were they in danger of being excluded from Jesus' select group?  At that point Jesus called the crowd to join them, announcing that they were all welcome to follow Him, but on one condition: they must be willing to sacrifice all self-interest, even being willing to die for His sake.  If they were to keep on following Him, they would end up where He was going.  The options were stark but real. True discipleship includes suffering as a part of the package (Philippians 1:29) .  The 'cross' Jesus talked about was the voluntary putting to death of self-interest and self-assertion - not some physical penance or relationship difficulty, however painful. Peter's concern was that Jesus should not die; later Peter was concerned that he might also die, which is why he denied even knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75).  In the end Jesus predicted that Peter would die, and on a cross too (John 21:18) .  The crowd were also invited to lay down the right to running their lives for themselves, if they believed in Him and the gospel.  Such people would have everlasting life, but those who denied Him would be excluded from God's kingdom.  It was not that their personal sacrifice would save their souls – only the sacrifice of Jesus can atone for our sins (1 John 4:10) – but that their willingness to identify with the crucified Christ proved their faith in Him.  To be ashamed of Jesus, meant that He would shun them on the day of His glory. Those whose life ambitions are money or fame, power or property, sensual satisfaction or social security, can never safeguard their souls from hell.  Nobody can buy their way to God's favour by their human efforts, good deeds, gifts, philanthropy, or religious rituals (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Nobody can bribe God to let them into heaven.  No service for Jesus can bring us any closer to His heart (Matthew 7:22-23) .  But the invitation to both trainee apostles and the crowds was the same - note the words 'whoever' (3x in these verses), 'someone' and 'anyone' (2x).  The invitation is to all who will come to Jesus on His terms (Acts 2:21): true relationship with Jesus is for those who choose to deny what they want, and submit to what Jesus wants for their lives.   Self-preservation is a natural ambition. The willingness to lose our lives for the Lord's sake (as many missionaries have done over the centuries... and many persecuted believers still do today), is only possible by a spiritual transformation - created by the Holy Spirit as we submit to Jesus Christ.  But if we are ashamed of the Saviour, His verdict on that attitude is catastrophically final. There is great comfort in the restoration of the repentant disciples (especially Peter) after the resurrection.  But that should only serve to stimulate our repentance and renewed lifestyle, while there is still time before Christ's return!

Gracious God. Thank You for Your long-suffering attitude to my unwillingness to follow the Lord Jesus in His self-denial and suffering for the gospel's sake. Please help me to repent and please work that transformation in my life so that I might desire to do Your will above all else. In Jesus' Name. Amen.