Mark 8 is “pivotal” in the literal sense. There is a pivot in Jesus’ training of the twelve. The pivot first comes in Jesus’ life when He tells them that He is heading to Jerusalem where He will suffer at the hands of men and then be raised from the dead. The pivot in the twelve is that following Him so as to be made “fishers of men” has now come to, “if you want to follow Me as I go to Jerusalem and the cross, you must deny yourself and take up your own cross, and continue in My footsteps.”
Dr. Luke had this pivot in mind giving us the same message in Lk. 9:23-26. Then, in v51, Luke says He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. The pivot was first in the heart, but not only in the heart; it became evident in the trip planning! All who would follow Christ were/are privileged to bear the name of the Messiah. But what privileges or benefits accrue to those who follow Christ? Here are a few!
· Lk. 9:57-58: discomfort and inconvenience. “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Material blessings are not guaranteed.
· Lk. 9:59-60: a strong sense of urgency. “Let the dead bury their own dead but you go preach the kingdom of God.” Someone else will set your daily schedule.
· Lk. 9:61-62: commitment. “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Before we move on, note that all three of these things you can see in Jesus’ life and ministry. If you follow Him you must “follow Him.”
· Mt. 8:23: storms. The disciples “followed Him” into the boat, and suddenly they were covered with waves.
· Mk. 6:1: opposition. They follow Him to His own country where the local synagogue rejected Him.
· Lk. 22:39: temptation. They followed to Gethsemane and encountered temptation.
These are real “privileges,” in that you only get them by following Christ. But let us note some other benefits promised to those who follow Him.
· Mt. 19:27-30: rewards, now and later. Peter asked and Jesus answered: all who have left all to follow Me shall receive and inherit bountifully.
· Mt. 28:20b: the presence of Christ. As we make disciples as He did, He promises to be with us in power for that ministry. What a blessing!
· Rev. 19:14: In this passage, the moment of Jesus’ return to earth, those who have followed Him are still following Him. That’s pretty amazing to think about.
I am reminded of the words of Jim Elliot: “He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” And then there are the words of Paul: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
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