Mark 08: Following Jesus is Expensive
The concept of following Jesus being "expensive" is one that doesn't get discussed nearly enough in many Christian circles today. In Mark chapter 8, we encounter a profound teaching from Jesus that challenges our modern, often watered-down understanding of what it truly means to be His disciple.
The chapter begins with Jesus demonstrating His compassion and power by feeding 4,000 people with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. This miraculous provision shows us Jesus' care for physical needs. He was concerned that if He sent the crowds away hungry, they would faint on their journey home. This compassionate consideration reveals the heart of Christ—He cares deeply about our daily struggles and physical necessities. Yet this miracle serves as merely the backdrop for the more profound spiritual teaching that follows.
After this feeding miracle, Jesus encounters the Pharisees who demand a sign from heaven. Despite having just performed an extraordinary miracle, these religious leaders wanted more proof of His authority. Jesus responds with a deep sigh—a reaction that any parent can relate to when faced with stubborn disbelief. He refuses to perform on demand, understanding that no sign would convince those whose hearts were already hardened against Him. This interaction highlights the futility of seeking more evidence when we've already been given enough to believe.
The narrative then shifts to a blind man being brought to Jesus in Bethsaida. What's fascinating about this healing is that it happens in stages—initially, the man sees people "like trees walking around," and only after Jesus touches him a second time does his sight become fully restored. This gradual healing process serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual sight. Sometimes our understanding comes gradually as Jesus continues to work in our lives, bringing clarity where there was once confusion.
The climax of the chapter arrives when Jesus asks His disciples the pivotal question: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah marks a turning point. Immediately following this confession, Jesus begins teaching about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. When Peter tries to rebuke Him for speaking of such things, Jesus delivers the sharp response: "Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God's concerns but merely human concerns."
This sets the stage for Jesus' profound teaching on discipleship. He states clearly: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." In the context of the first century, the cross was not a religious symbol but an instrument of execution. When someone "took up their cross," they were beginning their death march. Jesus is making it abundantly clear that following Him is not about getting a "get-out-of-jail-free card" or simply having our problems solved. It's about surrendering our entire lives to His lordship.
Many people approach Christianity as a transaction where they give Jesus their problems and sins in exchange for heaven, while continuing to live life on their own terms. But Jesus calls for something much more comprehensive—a complete exchange of our life for His. As He states, "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it." The paradox of Christian discipleship is that in surrendering everything, we gain everything that truly matters.
True Christianity isn't about adding Jesus to our existing life; it's about exchanging our life entirely for His. This teaching challenges the popular notion that salvation is merely about praying a prayer and then continuing life unchanged. Jesus calls for nothing less than total commitment—the kind that transforms every aspect of our existence. While salvation is indeed free—Jesus paid the full price—discipleship comes at the cost of our entire selves.
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