Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8
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
Christ."
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, chief priests and 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 things of God, but the things of men."
34 Then he called the crowd to him
along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
37Or what can a man give in exchange for his 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 him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Meditation
1. When Peter made this confession of faith “You are the Christ”, he has
only taken the first step. The next step is a lifelong journey to live out
this confession fully and authentically.
2. That’s the same with us. After our confession of faith, Jesus calls us to
live a life to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow” Jesus.
3. In your journey of faith, which step have you taken? Are you still
lingering at the first step? Or are you walking toward the goal of being
sanctified and made holy? What is it that has kept you from moving
ahead? What are you afraid of?
4. Pray for courage and faith to walk on this journey. Ask for God’s
guidance that you may willingly follow.

Personal Note:
Athletes move ahead by strict physical discipline.  Musicians move ahead by intentional practices.  Likewise, my relationship with God grows by strict spiritual discipline and intentional space created for God alone.

Deny myself and take up my cross and follow Jesus at this season of my life means:
-surrender my wicked and selfish desires at the cross
-willingness to give up comfort, respect, security, resources for the sake of the Gospel
-follow Jesus' way of love, humility, passion for the Father, compassion, justice, courage...