Mark 8:34 - Want To Follow Jesus?
Mark 8:34 (KJV) And when he had called the
people unto him with his disciples also, he said
unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me.
INTRODUCTION
Jesus paradoxes are statements that seem
self-contradictory and opposed to common sense, yet express
profound truths. [College Press NIV Commentary]
WORD STUDY
DENY SELF
Cease to make self the object of his
life. [NIV SB]
Requires a total commitment to turn
from selfish ways (Mark 8:34-35).
[One Year NLT SB]
Self-denial is nothing more or less
than choosing Gods will when that
will conflicts with what some part of
ourselves wants to do. [Victor
Bible Background Commentary]
Without denying our self worth, Jesus
asks us to deny our self-
centeredness so that his priorities
become ours. [Quest SB]
Deny oneself does not mean to hate
oneself or to go without something,
but to give full control of their life
to Christ. [Passages Of Life SB]
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
Taking up one's cross is a metaphor
for giving up one's life to follow
Jesus. [One Year NLT SB]
FOLLOW JESUS
Is staying close to Him, living in
intimate daily relationship, [Victor
Teachers Commentary]
Christ calls us to follow Him,
regardless of the cost, and He has never
promised that our path will always be
smooth.... But in the midst of the
suffering, trials and temptations, He
will provide His peace, joy and
fellowship.... In the midst of every
situation of life He can give an
inner calm and strength that you could
never imagine apart from Him.
Billy Graham [Time With God SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Chasing Happiness
We live in a selfie culture. In fact,
people have literally died by trying to capture the
ultimate selfie. We want to look good and project an
image of having it all together. Were a
self-obsessed society.
Interestingly, the Bible says that
narcissism will be one of the signs of the last days:
In the last days there will be very difficult
times. For people will love only themselves and
their money. They will be boastful and proud,
scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and
ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred (2
Timothy 3:1-2 NLT).
Isnt that an accurate description of
today?
However, selfish people are unhappy
people. Studies have confirmed this. We actually get
a momentary burst of what we might call
temporary happiness when we do something selfish.
One expert pointed out that selfish acts
bring us happiness, but only for short-term
periods of time. Then our selfish happiness fades
quickly and ultimately drives us to more selfish
behavior.
On the other hand, selfless acts bring
happiness. We know this from experience after we do
something for someone else.
In contrast to our narcissistic culture,
Jesus said, If you try to hang on to your life,
you will lose it. But if you give up your life
for my sake and for the sake of the Good News,
you will save it (Mark 8:35 NLT).
Jesus is effectively saying, If you
get your priorities in order and deny yourself
instead of loving yourself and being obsessed with
yourself, you will find fulfillment in life.
Theres nothing wrong with wanting to
be happy. In fact, Jesus is really telling us
how to be happy. But it isnt by chasing
happiness.
So we wont find happiness by pursuing
it. Rather, well find it by putting God first
in our lives and following Him. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
We adorn our churches with crosses, use
them as fashion accessories, and even get into
lawsuits over where we can display them. But I think
our society has a lot of misconceptions about
the cross today.
In the first century, the cross was a
repulsive symbol. It was an incredibly horrible way to
die. The Romans didnt invent crucifixion, but
they perfected it, so to speak. And they saved
crucifixion for the worst of criminals.
If you saw someone surrounded by Roman
soldiers and carrying a cross, you knew that person
was about to die a horrible, painful, torturous
death.
Yet Jesus said, Whoever desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for My sake and the gospels will save
it (Mark 8:34-35 NKJV).
These words of Jesus to His first-century
disciples still ring true for His followers today. But
what does it mean to take up the cross and follow
Him?
Jesus began by saying, Whoever desires
to come after Me, let him deny himself. The
word deny means to say no to yourself. It means
to put Gods will above your own.
What it doesnt mean is enduring
whatever issue or difficulty you may have. That
isnt what it means to bear the cross.
To bear the cross means one thing: deny
yourself and put God first.
Ive been a Christian for 50 years, so
Ive seen a lot of things. As time passes, Im
not so much impressed by charisma as I am by
character and longevity. Im impressed by a
Christian who weathers the storms of life and
continues to give glory to God because thats what
following Jesus is all about. [Greg Laurie from
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
The Bible calls us to take up our cross
daily and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34). But what does
that really mean? How do we do that? Does it mean
caring for a chronically ill family member, or
maybe putting up with a melancholy spouse who
doesn't communicate, or living paycheck to paycheck.
It may mean some of those things, but it's also
something more. Since Jesus died for our sins on the
cross, then taking up our cross means dying to
those same sins. Giving them up. Casting them
aside. That's what it means when Paul in today's
Scripture reading tells us to become like Jesus in His
death. A cross is an instrument of death, and when
we take it up daily, we learn how to die to
ourselves, to our selfish wants and wishes. But take
heart! The cross also means life. Not just life
eternal, but joy and peace and power in the very
midst of today's hardships and worries.
Lord Jesus, I'm so glad You spoke about
taking up my cross daily. Each new day gives me a
fresh opportunity to do that. Maybe I didn't pick
it up yesterday or the day before, but I can
pick it up today. Today, I will put You first.
Today, I will place Your desires before mine. [A
Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry
Libby re Phi. 3:7-11]
ILLUSTRATION
God wired the universe so that happiness
does not come from status, salary, sex, or
success.
Happiness comes from service. God
designed you to be happiest when you are giving your
life away. Why? Because God wants you to become
like him. And its all about love!
To have a happy heart, practice service
and generosity every day.
Jesus came to serve and give. Those two
actions will bring more happiness into your life
than anything else, and they define what it means
to follow Jesus. If youre not serving and if
youre not giving, then youre not following
Jesus. Its thats simple.
God also wired the universe in such a way
that the more you give yourself away, the more
God gives to you and the more blessed and
happier you are.
In Philippians 2:17-18, Paul says,
Your faith makes you offer your lives as a
sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own
blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and
full of joy with all of you. You also should be
happy and full of joy with me (NCV).
Sacrifice and serving are two of the keys
to lifelong happiness - generously giving your
life away for the sake of the Gospel. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I designed you to live in union with Me.
This union does not negate who you are; it
actually makes you more fully yourself. When you try
to live independently of Me, you experience
emptiness and dissatisfaction. You may gain the whole
world and yet lose everything that really counts.
Find fulfillment through living close to
Me, yielding to My purposes for you. Though I
may lead you along paths that feel alien to you,
trust that I know what I am doing. If you follow
Me wholeheartedly, you will discover facets of
yourself that were previously hidden. I know you
intimately-far better than you know yourself. In union with
Me, you are complete. In closeness to Me, you
are transformed more and more into the one I
designed you to be. (Mark 8:36; Psalm 139:13-16; 2
Corinthians 3:17-18) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Luke 9:23 - FOLLOWING JESUS.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210410-0922.html
Matthew 10:39 - Living for Jesus or for Self?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200202-0944.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
