Serving the Saviour - Studies in the Gospel of Mark - 7
The Cost of Discipleship
We are studying Mark chapter 8 verse 27 through to chapter 9 verse 50. This section deals with the challenge of being the servant of the Lord. We see the cost of discipleship and the glory of the Saviour which makes the cost worthwhile.
As servants of the Lord we must be clear about the identity of Jesus Christ. In verse 27 Jesus asked, "Who do people say that I am? ". There was a mixture of opinions. Verse 28 says, "They replied 'some say your John the Baptist, others say Elijah, still others, one of the Prophets'". Jesus then asked a critical question. We read in verse 29, "Who do you say that am? ". Peter answered, "You are the Christ". The word "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah". It means "the Anointed one". In the Old Testament God's appointed servants were anointed with oil. This anointing of the Prophet Priest or King signified that these were the only ones sent and approved by the Lord. So the Lord sent Jesus and there is no other who can bring us to God. Christ is the spokesman of the Lord. He is the servant of God. This is the God we serve. We must be right in our thinking about the uniqueness of the person of Jesus Christ. There is no other like Him. As servants of God we follow the servant of the Lord in every way.
In verse 31 Jesus predicts what will happen to Him, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders ... and that He must be killed and after three days rise again". Of course He had the sacrifice of the cross in view. He then challenges us. We read in verse 34, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". Christ's cross speaks of suffering and death. As servants of the Lord we will endure suffering in this world as we shine for Him. To be effective we must die to self and live the cross-life. A life of full and glad surrender to the Lord. This demands the sacrifice of our own comfort and ease. Jesus calls it denying of self. We say "no" to our own self-centredness, and "yes" to the claims of Christ on our lives.
Chapter 9 begins with the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Verses 3 and 4 say, "His clothes became dazzling white .... and there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus". This dazzling whiteness was the radiant glory of the eternal Son of God. Here we see Him as the Lord of Glory. We are reminded here that we do not serve a mere human being or religious leader. Christ is God incarnate. Peter, along with James and John, witnessed this personally. This experience stayed with him for the rest of his life, and the implication of it. He said in 2 Peter 1 verse 16, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came from the Majestic glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him am well pleased'. We ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with him in the mount". God the creator bore testimony to the special nature of his Son Jesus Christ. This event assures us that our faith in Christ is not misplaced. He is who He claimed to be. We can serve Him with confidence.
A key element of effective service is prayer. In verses 14 to 29 we read about the healing of a boy with an evil spirit. The boy's father explains in verse 17, "Teacher, we brought my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. We asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not". Jesus rebukes the spirit and it leaves the boy. The disciples asked in verse 28, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" Jesus replied in verse 29, "This kind can come out only by prayer".
Samuel Chadwick said, "The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray". That is a lesson we must learn early if we are going to win in our battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is a victory built on the victory of the cross. Jesus said in verse 31, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise". The battle is won in the risen Christ. S. D. Gordon said, "Prayer is striking the winning blow ... service is gathering up the results".
Verses 30 to 41 deal with the principles of servanthood. The disciples argued who was the greatest among them. Jesus said in verse 35, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be very last, and the servant of all". The servant serves everyone. The attitude of the servant is humility. Humility is more important than status to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the true servant. He said in Matthew 11 verse 29, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart". There can be so much pride in churches today. People wanting recognition and position and to be admired. We need more humble servants. Believers serving joyfully because it is done for the Lord.
The last part of the ninth chapter, verses 38 to 50, deals with evangelism. In verse 38 John said to Jesus, "Teacher. we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us". Jesus said in verse 39, “Do not stop him ..... for whoever is not against us is for us.” As believers we may differ on some areas of doctrine that are not foundational to Christian faith. We are able to unite in seeking to win men and women to Jesus Christ. We all believe in the same Gospel. We all have the same concern for the lost. Our message is to remind people that they must deal with their sin to avoid hell. Jesus said in verse 47, "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell". Let us work together to make this message known in our sinful world.
May the Lord bless you as you serve him with humility, self-denial, prayer, and united evangelism.