The Gospel

In my Life Group study we are wrapping up Mark 8 where Jesus was standing where the Caesar and the Herods got all the acclaim (Caesarea Philippi) and asked His men who people said He was.  They reported John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or someone similar.  Then Jesus pressed them to answer with their own answer.  According to Matthew 16:17, God leaned over and whispered in Peter’s ear that Jesus was not a mere man with God’s power, but the promised Messiah!  Peter then exclaimed, “Thou are the Christ! – the anointed One!”

What did that mean?  Isaiah 9:6-7 says that a child will be given, unto you a son…He will be called…the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father!  The Christ is God!

Micah 5:2 says that Bethlehem will give birth to one “whose goings forth have been from old” – He preexisted from way before.  The Christ is God!

So, after months and months of trying to get the 12 past their religious past and mindset, they finally got it!  Yeah!  Jesus was God!

Then just 2 verses later, Jesus declared to them that He was the Son of Man.  Wait!  We just figured out that He was the Son of God.  Now the Son of Man?  Jesus continued teaching with the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, and die (and rise the 3rd day)!

No!  “You are God!  What do you mean die?  God does not die?  What?”

“Yes, die, but first suffer and be rejected!”

“God suffer?  God be rejected?  God die?  How can this be?  And the word must!  It is required?  It is God’s will?”  It was God’s will that Jesus suffer, be rejected, and die!

“But God is loving and kind.  God is good.  God is not about letting people suffer and die, especially those close to Him, especially His Son!  How can this be?”

Peter verbalized the confusion to which Jesus publicly rebuked him for thinking like Satan.

Then Jesus declared that the way to resurrection for all men is to follow Him (8:34).  That means to follow Him in suffering, being rejected, and dying.  To be in God’s will is to walk with Jesus into troubles, pain, and even martyrdom.

In Mark 8:35, Jesus declared that following Him is both His will and the will of the gospel.  That is, the gospel call is to not “accept Jesus” but to “follow Jesus.”  Yes, follow Jesus into suffering, rejection, and even death.  The way to resurrection (after 3 days rise) is a path of loss, pain, and death.  The good news of a resurrection to life is to deny self, to accept shame and reproach, to suffer, and even die.  It is not a “prosperity gospel” or “your best life now” gospel (although, in spiritual reality it is a prosperity and success gospel now), it is to walk with Jesus joyfully accepting all that comes with being identified with Him.

Call people to follow Jesus – not just accept Jesus.