July 18th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Costly Discipleship

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, You alone are God. You alone are holy. I bow in worship before You.

Read MARK 8:27--9:1

[27] Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” [28] They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” [29] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” [30] Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. [31] He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. [32] He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. [33] But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” [34] 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. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [38] 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.” [1] And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“A Christian is not his own master, since all his time belongs to God” (Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, martyred in Rome, c.107 A.D.).

Think Further

Today’s reading marks a turning point in the public life of Jesus. His Galilean ministry is now all but over and the final, fateful journey to Jerusalem is about to begin. First, however, he leads his disciples northward to Caesarea Philippi, a city with a grotto dedicated to the Greek nature god, Pan, and boasting a new temple where loyal Roman citizens burned incense, intoning “Caesar is lord.” This was the context in which Jesus asked his disciples the most important question they’d ever face: “Who do you say I am?” (29). Peter’s response, “You are the Christ,” shows that he and the others had correctly interpreted the parables and miracles.  

Having brought the disciples to recognize his identity, Jesus begins to teach them what kind of Messiah he is. He tells them he is the suffering Messiah anticipated in the Righteous Sufferer in the Psalms (Psas. 22,118) and the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah (Isa. 52:13–53:12). The disciples are shocked. This is revolutionary stuff. No one else associated the suffering prophecies with the Messiah!  

Jesus speaks plainly and forcefully (32). He insists “The Son of Man must suffer” (31, italics added). He rebukes in the strongest possible terms Peter’s attempt to dissuade him (33). He then goes on to teach that, not only the Messiah, but the disciples also must suffer (34). Jesus obeyed his divine “must.” Are we willing to obey ours? The commitment Jesus demands is a willingness, if need be, to lose our life for him. The image behind v. 35 is of a disciple facing a judicial demand to renounce Christ on pain of crucifixion. Jesus has the moral authority to expect us to lose our life for him. He did not lose his life. He gave it — for you and me (Gal. 2:20).

Apply

How authentic is your discipleship? How might it be strengthened? Reflect prayerfully on your commitment to Jesus.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I confess I often go along to get along. May Your example challenge me and may the Spirit equip me to stand strong for You.

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