“…The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He [Jesus] spoke this word openly.”
Previously, Peter professed that Jesus is the Son of God. Was Jesus undermining His own popularity purposefully? He spoke of His own demise openly, or did He? Six important words follow His message about being rejected and killed by the religious leaders of the people. They are, “And after three days rise again.” [1]
Peter was upset. He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. But Peter turned towards His disciples and looked at them. “He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” [2]
Yes, the Son of God needed to be tortured by wicked people. He needed to be crucified. In so doing, He would expose the evil of false prophets; atone for the sins of the world; and resurrect from the dead for the resurrection of all who believe in Him.
Jesus said to His disciples, “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 Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” [3]
Jesus says that we must deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him. We need to lose our lives for the sake of Gospel to save them. Christ is everything! The Gospel is everything! Nothing is more important than safe-guarding and living for Jesus Messiah and His message.
Our Lord Jesus will be ashamed of whoever is ashamed of Him amidst an adulterous and sinful generation. There will not be glory for them. Jesus will descend to earth with the glory of the Father and His holy angels, but it will not be glorious for the one who has been ashamed of Jesus amidst those who are perishing in their sins.
“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all the times we have been ashamed of Your precious Son Jesus. Lord Jesus, please grant us the will-power and Holy Spirit anointing to speak up for You even when we are amidst adulterous and sin-loving people. Let us be willing to bear the cross for their sake that they might be saved. It is in Your Name Lord Jesus, that we pray. Amen.”
[1] Mark 8:31-32
[2] Mark 8:33
[3] Mark 8:34-37
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