SERMON TITLE: Welcome to the Club
TEXT: Mark 8:27-9:1 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 2-8/9-20
It’s great to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And one thing I want you to know is that God loves you and I love you too.
We are finishing up our time in the gospel of Mark — for this year — and — as a reminder — we’ll be picking the book back up again in 2021.
And to give you a heads up — on what to expect in the coming weeks — next week — you’ll be hearing from Pastor Robert — whom most of you know. And then — in two weeks — Pastor Jon — our North Main campus pastor — will be preaching. They’ll both be preaching from the book of Psalms — so make sure you’re here the next two weeks to hear some great preaching from pastors Robert and Jon. Then — after a two week preaching break — I’ll be back as we return to our Finding Jesus series — where — this year — we’ll be finding Jesus in the books known as the Minor Prophets.
Now since we’re finishing up our time in Mark’s gospel — let me remind you of what we’ve been learning. We’ve been learning that God is more concerned about what goes on inside of us than he is with what goes on outside of us — meaning our behaviors. And the reason for this is that God knows when our motivations — when our desires — when what the Bible calls our “heart” is aligned with God’s heart — well that’s when our behaviors will please him.
And we’re going to see this — once again — in our passage for today. So let’s turn to it.
If you have your Bible please turn with me to Mark chapter 8. We’ll be looking at verse 27 through the first verse of chapter 9.
And while you’re finding Mark chapter 8, have you ever noticed how much we love comfort? In fact — let’s make this personal — have you ever noticed how much you love comfort? We’re all creatures of comfort — aren’t we — even if we have our own take on what it means to be comfortable.
For example — and this is audience participation time for all of our campuses. Raise your hand if — generally speaking — you sit in the same place when you come to your campus to worship at Gateway. I mean — I know when someone’s going to have an off day because I’m aware when someone’s beat you to your beloved seat. We love our comfort, don’t we?
When we go out to eat or shop or — Lord help us — if you have to go to the BMV — how long does the line have to be before you’re like, “Nope. I’m out. This ain’t worth it.” Now — we can do that at a restaurant or when we’re shopping — we don’t really have the luxury with the BMV — but we prefer — don’t we — for experiences like these to be as easy as possible, with as few delays as possible, with as little cost to us as possible — because — we like our comfort.
And this isn’t just true for waiting in lines, it’s easy to have a “please keep things comfortable for me” expectation in our relationships. Parenting is easy — when the kids are getting along. But when they’re not — and now my comfort is being disrupted — well then parenting can be a nightmare. Same can be true for work relationships, the relationship you have with your roommates, and even in marriages — because we all like our comfort.
Now something our desire for comfort highlights — is an influence of sin in our lives that’s often overlooked. Where we think that being comfortable is the goal of life — or at least — the goal of a particular situation. So when something — or someone — disrupts our comfort — we may see them as an obstacle. Some — even — are quick to move on from one relationship to another when the relationship begins to cost them their comfort. So they move on to someone else who — for the time being — isn’t rocking their comfort boat.
Now — to be certain — there are certain relationships that are so destructive you have to walk away from them. But that’s way different than allowing personal comfort to be the deciding factor in our commitment to a relationship that isn’t destructive.
And the reason why this is important for us to understand is because of something we learn in our story from Mark’s gospel. Because Jesus is going to challenge our desire for comfort and he’s going to show us that a relationship with him means being willing to sacrifice our comfort for him. But it’s not a one way expectation for — in fact — Jesus sacrificed his comfort for us first.
Here are the words found in Mark chapter 8. Beginning in verse 27.
“And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." 29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." 9:1 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."” (Mark 8:27-9:1 ESV)
Now I’m not sure what stuck out to you as I read these verses.
What stuck out to you? Now maybe it was something else but — to say the least — these words definitely shake up our comfort. Maybe they’ve shaken up your love of comfort by challenging your belief of “Well, I’ve put my faith in Jesus, but that doesn’t mean he expects much of me, right? I mean, I can just live however I want because all I have to do is believe in him and things will turn out good for me in the end, right?”
Well it seems — from these stories — that Jesus expects our faith in him — an inside work — to do something to us — not being ashamed of him — for one — carrying our cross — for another — that this inside work — Jesus does in us — affects our outside behaviors. And — when I think of Jesus’ cross — and then him telling us to carry our crosses — well the last thing I think of is, “Well that sure sounds comfortable!” And it also doesn’t sound like something I want to try and do all on my own.
So — since Jesus is disrupting our comfort — let’s begin by answering the question, “Who is he — who is Jesus — this guy disrupting our comfort?” Then we’ll see what it means to be welcomed into the “believing in Jesus — also known as — the following Jesus — club.
Let’s begin back in verse 27.
“And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." 29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.” (Mark 8:27-30 ESV)
Who is Jesus? I’m sure you see — that even in Jesus’ day — there were different thoughts and opinions about him. People have asked all kinds of questions about Jesus — thus far — in Mark’s gospel.
After Jesus taught a crowd in a synagogue — and healed a man who was possessed by a demon — the people were all amazed and asked, “"What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."” (Mark 1:27b ESV)
After — by simply speaking a word — Jesus calmed a raging storm that was threatening to sink the boat that he and his disciples were in — his disciples, “were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"” (Mark 4:41b ESV)
And in his hometown of Nazareth, “on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?”” (Mark 6:2 ESV)
People have been asking questions about Jesus throughout Mark’s gospel. But now it’s Jesus’ turn to ask the question. And when he changes one word in his question — when “who do people say that I am” becomes “who do you say that I am” — well — it’s how we answer this second question that reveals something about our heart. And that’s why Jesus asks us this question — because he’s concerned about our heart.
And Peter — you’ve got to love him. Peter belts out, “You’re the Christ!”
Now the Jewish expectation — so this would’ve been what the 12 disciples would’ve expected — but the Jewish expectation about the Christ is that he was going to be a great Jewish leader who’s arrival would mean the overthrow of the reign and rule of Rome. That’s why — it’s no coincidence — that Mark makes sure to let us know where this conversation is taking place — Caesarea Philippi — a town whose name is associated with Caesar — the leader of the Roman Empire.
And — I think — for the Jews — including the disciples — the coming Christ was viewed as someone who was going to bring comfort to his people. I mean, think of how uncomfortable it must have been to live under the oppression and occupation of a foreign empire? We get all out of sorts in our country when a candidate from the opposing party gets elected into office, don’t we? It’s uncomfortable. So imagine the discomfort in being under the reign and rule of a foreign power.
So — with all that in mind — think of the statement Peter’s making. “Jesus, you want to know who I think you are? Well here goes. You’re the real Leader — not Caesar.” And notice that Jesus doesn’t correct him — for he is the Messiah — another term for Christ. But — even though there’s a revolutionary type leadership expectation — that the Jews had for the Christ — Jesus shows us something else about his leadership — he came to lead a revolution through his teaching and his death. He teaches his disciples what it means to live in allegiance to him as their King. It means living in obedience — an obedience that comes from the heart — to believe — yes — but also to live — as if he is the real Leader.
But before we get to Jesus’ teaching — we get to Peter’s screw up.
Verse 31. “And he (Jesus) began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly.
Well that doesn’t sound like a Leader who’s come to overthrow an oppressive regime, now does it? And Jesus doesn’t even refer to himself — here — as the Christ. He calls himself the Son of Man — a reference to another Old Testament promise — that Jesus fulfills. And this Son of Man promise has nothing to do with the expectations that the disciples just put on Jesus when they said, “We know who you are — you’re the Christ.” And — then — to complicate things even further — Jesus says that he must suffer and be rejected by the Jewish leaders and be killed. And none of this fits the expectation and hope that Peter — and the other disciples — and the Jewish people, for that matter — have for the coming Christ. They don’t expect to reject God’s Leader — they definitely haven’t been thinking, “When God’s Leader finally arrives — I know — we’re going to kill him!” What Jesus is telling them makes no sense — and it’s definitely not comforting.
I don’t know if you’ve ever met a celebrity only to be underwhelmed once you did. I’ve talked about my days of being a jazz saxophonist, well — like many young musicians — I had an idol that I looked up to — Joshua Redman — he’s a great saxophonist. And — one time — we were both at a convention and I was able to meet him — and I was so nervous — but I asked him if I could take a picture with him — and young folks — this was with an actual camera — with film in it — before cell phones. And I was so excited to get the picture printed — me and Joshua Redman. And then the picture came in — and guess what? His eyes were closed! And I was so disappointed. The pictureof me and my hero — was a big let down — he couldn’t even keep his eyes open!
That’s kind of what’s happening to Peter and the disciples — just on a much bigger scale.
“Jesus, you’re confusing us. You just asked us who we thought you were and — I think — we were pretty clear. So what’s up with all of this suffering and rejection and dying stuff? This doesn’t sound like the Christ we’ve been waiting for.”
That’s what I think the other disciples were thinking — but Peter often acts first and thinks second — so…
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."” (Mark 8:31-33 ESV)
Though — moments ago — Peter had nailed his answer to Jesus’ question — he now thoroughly swings his hammer, misses the nail, and — with full force — slams the hammer on his thumb — more like his whole hand. I mean — he just got it — “Jesus, you’re the Christ” — and now — like Chunk with the water cooler in Goonies — he “don’t got it.”
And — if you rebuke Jesus — well all I can say — is be prepared to get rebuked in return. Which is what happens to Peter. Jesus tells Peter, “Pete, what you’ve just said comes straight from Satan.You’re focused on the things of men and not on God’s plan. And in rejecting what I’ve just told you — you’re opposing God’s will.”
What was God’s will? That the Christ would suffer and be killed. Now this wasn’t a hidden idea — it shouldn’t have been a surprise to the disciples — the idea’s found in the Old Testament. But the reason why Peter — and the Jews — rejected the idea of a suffering Messiah — is because they knew the consequences — and the consequences were a wee bit uncomfortable — to say the least. What do I mean? Well, when your Messiah — your Leader and King — succeeds in triumph — his people follow in his footsteps and succeed in triumph — great, comforting news! But when your Messiah — your Leader and King — suffers and is killed — well — his people still follow in his footsteps — but this time following him leads to suffering and death — big time discomforting news!
So — I think — we can sympathize with why Peter rejected what Jesus has said — he’s not right — but his response is understandable.
And how satanic it is of us — Jesus’ followers today — to be so attracted to our comfort — that unlike Peter — we don’t verbally rebuke Jesus because of the clear implications of what it means to follow a Messiah who suffered, was rejected, and killed — the implications being that what happens to your Leader and King will happen to you — how satanic it is of us to love our comfort so much that we’re willing to allow Satan’s will to be done — in our lives — in the name of comfort — instead of living for the will of our God as we follow our Savior? At least Peter wasn’t passive — again — he was wrong — but he at least let it be known that this was all very disturbing news. All we do is just live life as if Jesus never said these words. And I’m not even sure which is more offensive to Jesus. For to be welcomed into the “following Jesus club” means “so goes your Leader — Jesus — so goes you.” Is this what you’re prepared for?
And — to make this clear to Peter, the other disciples, to the people in the crowd that had gathered around — and to make this clear to us — Jesus...
“And calling [called] the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." 9:1 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."” (Mark 8:34-9:1 ESV)
So some good news — because this is a lot of hard — messing with our comfort — news. Peter — and the others — they’re still Jesus’ disciples.
Do you want to follow Jesus? Not everyone does. Some people’s hearts are hardened against Jesus, they hate him, or are unimpressed by him — they think he’s rather dull.
But what about you — do you want to follow him? If so, he tells you what must be done. He gives you fair warning.
Deny yourself. Take up your cross. And follow him.
You either deny yourself or you deny Jesus. But you can’t have it both ways. And the consequence for denying Jesus is eternally detrimental to your soul — you lose it.
And though the phrase — take up your cross — has been used to explain all kinds of hardships in one’s life — I think — when we look at the context of our passage — we see that Jesus isn’t meaning for us to think of something specific — like an illness that’s “my cross to bear” — as much as Jesus is wanting us to think of a lifestyle.
And — I can imagine that someone might be thinking — “Well, Josh, I’ve never known Jesus to be so demanding. Isn’t all of this a bit over the top when it comes to what he expects of me?”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a book called The Cost of Discipleship. And in his book he argues that we should be willing to give all of who we are to God because God gave all of who he is to us — in Jesus — and he went first! This is what Bonhoeffer meant by the “cost of discipleship” which he based on what it cost God to extend his grace to us.
Bonhoeffer writes, “grace is costly because it calls us to follow...Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life [he will ever live]. It is costly because it condemns sin, and [it is] grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “You were bought with a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap to us.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 5.) He then writes, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession...Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ...” (Ibid., 5.)
Cheap grace — grace that costs you nothing in return — isn’t grace. A cheap gospel is no gospel. But costly grace is grace. And a costly gospel is the gospel. And it’s only when we understand the cost of following Jesus — that we’ll begin to understand what it means to live for him — because we’re changed on the inside by seeing what it personally cost Jesus for us to live for him.
Now here’s what I don’t want — I don’t you to hear all of what I’ve just said and think, “Well then I guess I’m disqualified because I’ll never live up to these expectations.” I don’t want you to think that because you’re both right and wrong. You can’t do this on your own, but you can do “all things through Christ who strengthens you.” (Philippians 4:13) Isn’t that a shocking way to apply that verse to our lives? But because of Christ in you — and because of his costly grace and love for you — you can follow Jesus — because he is the One who strengthens you and gives you the capability and ability to do so. Jesus loves you, he’s transforming you, he is changing your heart — he’s changing you — from the inside out. So — yes — you can’t do this on your own. But — yes — you can do this through Christ who gives you strength.
For others of us — though — the thought of discomfort is terrifying. It sounds painful, limiting, depriving. You’re drawn towards things that are easy and painfree — to things that make you feel good. And what you need to know is that though following Jesus is costly — it’s for your good. Because the God who gave up his comfort for you — will comfort you as you follow him in ways that mean abandoning the sorry excuse of comfort this world offers. And as you follow Jesus, he will be your comfort, he will be your satisfaction, he will be your joy.
Jesus is asking you, “Who do you say that I am?” What’s your answer?
He’s asking you, “Do you see how much my love for you cost me?” Can you see the cost of his love for you?
He’s asking you, “How will you respond to my costly love?” Will you respond to his love with cheap love — which is no love at all — or with the costly love that grace requires?
Do you want to follow Jesus? Well welcome to the club. The club of “so goes your Leader — your Savior — your Christ — so goes you. The club of following in the footsteps of Jesus — the One who says to you, “Follow me. Trust me. Give up your life for me as I gave up my life for you.” Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, your love for us — as displayed in the life, death, and resurrection of your Son — Jesus — is amazing. It’s overwhelming. It shatters the sorry excuses and expectations of what we have for being loved. Yet you love us with an amazing, overwhelming, eternal, costly love. Help us all to receive your love. To trust your love. To respond to your love. To rest in your love.
Jesus, to you we apologize for how often we’ve responded to your costly love with cheap love in return. Here we are — people who don’t deserve and could never earn your love — and yet you’ve freely given your love to us only to be returned with a cheap, seemingly bored with you, “don’t bother me today Jesus I’ve got other interesting things going on” — love that we so often give back to you. For that, we’re not just sorry — we’re repentant. And we ask you to be gracious to us and expand our heart’s love for you.
Finally, Holy Spirit, reveal to us your will so it is what we live for and not for the will of our enemy. Help us to have confidence — and not fear — in knowing, “So went our Christ, so goes us.” For following in the footsteps of Jesus isn’t something to be feared — it’s an opportunity to experience life, joy, peace, hope, and purpose that this world’s comfort can’t compete against. May your will be done — in our lives — as we follow Jesus. It’s in his name that we pray. Amen.
May you go knowing who Jesus is — the Christ — the One who sacrificed his comfort for your sake and has called you to follow him. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
You find the notes for this sermon here.
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