Following Jesus Even When it Costs Me (Mark 8)

Evening Scripture

Mark 8
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

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 concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “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? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Evening Reflection

Everything costs something. There is an opportunity cost, at least. Getting a hamburger at a restaurant means I don’t get anything else on the menu. Success in any endeavor will cost an investment of resources, hardship now for the reward later. An Olympic athlete sacrifices a “normal” life for the chance at a gold medal.

There is a cost to follow Jesus. On one level, following Jesus costs our own life. We submit our will and desires to his. We die to ourselves to live for him, willingly sacrificing a “normal” life for a higher, greater one. On another level, we face resistance in this world. Living for Christ and the Kingdom threatens and challenges the kingdoms of this world, and the Satan who thinks he runs them. We will face hardship and persecution, as Jesus did. Christ guarantees it.

When Jesus prophesied his own crucifixion, Peter tried to deny it. No one would want to see someone they love so shamefully and excruciatingly executed, especially the promised Messiah. Yet Jesus has to correct Peter. Jesus would need to take up his cross. Christ goes even further to declare that everyone who follows the Son of God must choose to do the same.

This is a great cost. Thankfully, the cross wasn’t the end of Jesus’ story. Neither will it be ours. The reward and glory of the eternal resurrection will be worth any sacrifice made today. And our Kingdom “medal” is assured. Let us endure in such hope.

Evening Prayer

Heavenly Father,
You call me to follow at a cost, and I choose to answer because you are more than worth it. I surrender my will, my desires, and my plans to you. Teach me to take up my cross daily and walk obediently, even when it brings difficulty or resistance. Strengthen me when I face sacrifice. Remind me that nothing lost for you is wasted. Fix my eyes on the secure and sure promise of the resurrection and eternal glory with you. Give me courage to live for your Kingdom first. Let this hope anchor my heart, and let me endure as I follow you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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