The CROSSroads: Personal Lessons from Mark's Gospel by Rev. Mitch Schultz

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:34:20utc

Lesson Twenty Nine: NO GLORY WITHOUT THE CROSS (Mark 8:27-38)

"He spoke plainly about this" (vs.32)

From here on Mark's gospel quickens in its pace and the road that leads to the cross becomes more visible. In the next chapter Jesus is going to lift the veil to allow the disciples a wonderful but rare opportunity to view his glory in its fullness. But before he does, he warns them that they must understand that he came to suffer. There will be no glory without the cross. The disciples will have to prepare themselves with the right theology before they can see his glory. It is no coincidence that Mark places these two narratives in this order. Impressed deep in our minds there must lie that understanding that one will never truly see the face of God until he has first suffered and left everything of this world behind. The relationship between suffering and glory is an essential one, for without suffering there is no glory.

When Peter hears Jesus speak this way he reacts with noble zeal. Taking Jesus aside he rebukes Jesus. Literally Peter is attempting to censor Jesus, to cause him to stop speaking this way any longer. It was not a half-hearted reaction by Peter, but a full attempt to silence Jesus and one that pledged all his personal efforts to assure that what Jesus had said would not come about. Just prior to Peter's statement Jesus had asked the disciples who they thought he was. It was Peter who answered, "You are the Christ." (vs.29) Willing to acknowledge that Jesus came as Messiah, Peter could not accept that the way it would come about was through suffering. Jesus rebukes Peter and even implies that his reaction is from the devil. "Get behind me Satan.. You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (vs.32)

It is after this exchange, that Jesus calls his disciples together along with the crowd that is there, and uses what has happened to challenge each to a new level of discipleship. The Son of Man must suffer many things and so must you! Do you want to follow me? Well, you will have to suffer. Do you know where I am going? The cross! Follow me and that is where you too will go. It is not worth gaining the whole world and yet to lose the glory because you refused the price.

I am in Pittsburgh PA as I write this while speaking at a missionary conference. Last night I had the opportunity to speak to about 100 fairly attentive school age children, and I spoke to them on the cost of following Jesus. I spoke of the need to give their life completely to Jesus and how valuable it was to take this step when they were young. I cited the example of my son Travis who only weeks ago went forward at the end of a missionary conference rally to give his life to be a missionary, should that be what God wanted of him. There was a wonderful stillness in the room as I also related to them the events in Travis's life that led up to this. I knew the Holy Spirit was asking me to challenge these young hearts to similar commitment. I asked those who wanted to respond to raise their hands. Almost every hand shot up into the air. I quickly stopped them from responding any further and added, wait just a minute. Do you realise what you are saying to God? By raising your hands you are saying to Jesus "I am completely yours. You can do whatever you want with my life. I am willing to suffer, to face loss even to die for you". A second call to respond led to only a handful raising their hands, as they now understood the cost. They are learning young that there can be no glory without the cross. I hope you see it this way too and are willing to give up all to ultimately gain more.

I owe more to the fire and the hammer and the file than to anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most. -Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892)