So, What About You?

By Rev. Heidi L. Barham |  September 15, 2024

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Read  Mark 8:27 – 38 (NIV)

As we look at our New Testament lesson this morning from the Gospel of Mark, it would be helpful for us to consider the context... to look at not only what is happening but to be mindful of where things are taking place…
 
It is in the opening verse of the text that we find Jesus and the disciples heading toward the villages around a city known as Caesarea Philippi.  This was an extremely pagan city that was known for its worship of Greek gods as well as for its temples that were devoted to an ancient god known as Pan. 
 
Now, given the propensity of the people in this town for worshipping other gods… it is probably not a mere coincidence that Jesus would choose this location to ask the disciples who people said He was... using this as an opportunity for the disciples to see Him in contrast to the false gods that the people worshipped in Caesarea Philippi.
 
In response to Jesus’ question, the disciples said that some were saying He was John the Baptist, while others said He was the prophet Elijah, while still others said He was one of the other prophets. 
 
All of these responses were an indication that although many of the people saw Jesus as someone with a level of authority to act as an agent of God… as a prophet… they still were not identifying Him as the Messiah.
 
Then Jesus turned the question back to the disciples and He asked them, “But what about you? …Who do you say I am?”
 
This gives us a clear indication that it is not enough to know what other people have to say about Jesus… we have to know who Jesus is for ourselves… we should be in a position to respond with a high degree of certainty like Peter... who said, rather definitively, “You are the Messiah.”
 
And while this may have been the correct answer, Jesus warned the disciples to keep this information to themselves.  For some reason, He did not want them to tell anyone… at least not yet. 
 
Perhaps that is because while Peter was able to accurately say that Jesus was the Messiah… it would appear that he did not fully understand all that really meant.
 
Because as we keep reading, Jesus began to teach the disciples about what it meant for Him to be the Messiah and what the future held for Him… the suffering, the rejection, the crucifixion, and ultimately the resurrection… and that is when the Scriptures say that “Peter took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke Him.”  Good old impetuous Peter...
 
I must admit the method Peter used was probably not the best way to go about things… I mean, seriously, who rebukes Jesus?  Especially after you just said He was the Messiah… but it is somewhat understandable that Peter and the disciples did not want to believe that their dear friend, Jesus, was going to endure all of the things He was telling them... especially that part about dying.
 
After all, He was the One they had been walking alongside for the past three years… the One they truly respected and admired… the One they had witnessed perform miracle after miracle… He was the One that they simply could not imagine would be made to suffer and die... because if that could happen to Him, what did that mean for them?
 
But that is the harsh reality of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ... someone who is intention in following the path that Jesus laid out for us.  That is what comes with the territory when we make the decision to surrender our lives to Christ... it will not always be sunshine and blue skies... and the road will not be paved with instant wealth and unfettered success.
 
Following Jesus often involves hard work... and there will be times when we may be faced with persecution, deprivation, and yes, even deep suffering.  Keep in mind, Jesus never said it would be easy. 
 
In fact, according to what is recorded in the Gospel of John (16:33), Jesus said the exact opposite would be true, telling His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
 
Now, as we keep reading our text for the morning, Jesus called the crowd to join the disciples, and He proceeded to tell them all:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?   (34 – 37).

That was probably not the kind of “pep talk” they might have been expecting or hoping to hear when Jesus called to them... but it was exactly what they needed to hear... so they would be prepared to face everything that lay ahead... the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.
 
Which brings me to the question for the morning: SO, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
 
The text gives us some food for thought that we should be prepared to consider for ourselves... as we think about our own journey and walk with the Lord.
 
Listen to verses 34 – 37 as they are found in the Message Paraphrase:

Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? 

All of which leads us to reflect on several questions:
 
Are we willing to let Jesus take the wheel... to let Him sit in the driver’s seat of our lives... as we relinquish control to Him?
 
Are we willing to embrace the life of suffering that comes with being a follower of Christ?  To not always be the most popular or the most successful by worldly standards?  To face the potential for ostracism or persecution for not simply going along with the crowd?
 
Are we willing to deny ourselves for the cause of Christ?  ...refusing to “sell our souls” to have the good life now in exchange for the glorious eternity that awaits those who follow Jesus?
 
And let me also ask this...
 
Are we willing to openly profess our faith in Christ... or do our cheers in the football stadium or at the ballpark ring out louder than our praises in the sanctuary? Does the very idea of someone labeling us as “Jesus freaks” or fanatics frighten us into silence? 
 
If we look at the last verse of our text... it is straightforward and leaves little wiggle room for the sake of argument.  Listen to verse 38 as it appears in the Message Paraphrase:

If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.

I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to be is an embarrassment to Jesus when He comes back for us...
 
My prayer is that my life leaves little room for doubt for anyone who knows me to see and believe that I love the Lord... including any “fickle and unfocused friends” who may come my way... [and although I hate to admit it... there are a few folks I know who fall into that category].
 
But this is why we should always be willing to take a stand for what is right... even when it is unpopular.
 
We should not be afraid to go against the grain when it means doing what Jesus would do... let’s not forget, Jesus was not above turning over a few tables to get His point across... and we shouldn’t be either... perhaps not in a literal sense but we should be ready, willing, and able to call it out when we see things being done that do not honor God and that do not give Him the glory that He truly deserves.
 
Better to face the sneers and jeers of a few folks here on earth than try to explain to the Lord why we sat silently by as others tried to take credit for what only God can do... all in a vain attempt to get the glory for themselves... setting themselves up on a pedestal... and doing whatever they think will bring them the admiration of others... all so they can make themselves feel good...
 
But it was the Apostle Paul who wrote in his letter to the Galatians (6:7 – 8), “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
 
Maybe it’s just me, but I would much rather reap the rewards of eternal life than the destruction that awaits those selfishly ignore the needs of others and seek only glory for themselves.
 
SO, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
 
Let me leave us with just a few things to ponder as we think back on our New Testament lesson for the morning:
 
When faced with the question of who we say Jesus is... what will our answer be?  Will we proudly proclaim Him to be the Messiah... the Son of the Living God?  Will we willingly take the road less traveled and pick up our cross and follow Him?
 
When given the opportunity to bring glory to God by putting the needs of others ahead of our own... will we willingly and lovingly make the sacrifice to do what Jesus would do?
 
Are we willing to go, unashamed, to whatever lengths are necessary to share the Good News about a living Savior who is Christ the Lord? 
 
If your answer is a resounding yes... then, I want to invite you to stand up and sing with power and conviction our Hymn of Discipleship: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus #344.

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