"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

The Cost Of Discipleship (8:34-35)

INTRODUCTION
  1. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus called people to become His disciples...
    1. Such as Simon and Andrew - Mk 1:16-18
    2. Also James and John - Mk 1:19-20
  2. At the conclusion of His ministry, Jesus sent His apostles to make more disciples...
    1. To make disciples of all the nations - Mt 28:19
    2. Teaching them to observe all that He commanded - Mt 28:20
  3. In the text for this lesson, we find Jesus discussing the issue of discipleship...
    1. Having just predicted His own suffering, death, and resurrection - Mk 8:31
    2. Telling His disciples and others what is the cost of discipleship - Mk 8:34-35

[A disciple is a learner, a follower; to be a disciple of Jesus means that we follow Jesus. But as Jesus mentions in our text, such discipleship requires a cost. To be a true disciple of Jesus...]

  1. ONE MUST DENY SELF
    1. WHAT IT MEANS...
      1. To deny sinful self, ungodliness, and worldly lusts; and part with them, and his former sinful companions, which were as a part of himself - Gill
      2. To deny righteous self, and renounce all his own works of righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation - ibid.
      -- To deny self with its self-righteous pride and sinful lust from dominating you
    2. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
      1. Denying sinful self, expounded by Peter
        1. Abstaining from fleshly lusts - 1Pe 2:11-12
        2. No longer living like the rest of the world - 1Pe 4:1-4
      2. Denying righteous self, exemplified by Paul
        1. Who had much about which he could have boasted - Php 3:4-6
        2. But chose to put all his trust in Christ - Php 3:7-14
        -- In precept and practice, the apostles tell us what it means to deny self

      [Together with denying self, to be a disciple of Christ...]

  2. ONE MUST TAKE UP HIS CROSS
    1. WHAT IT MEANS...
      1. To voluntarily and decisively accept the pain, shame, and persecution that is going to be one's particular-note: his, not someone else's-lot because of his loyalty to Christ and his cause - Hendriksen
      2. To cheerfully receive, and patiently bear, every affliction and evil, however shameful and painful it may be, which is appointed for him, and he is called unto; which is his peculiar cross, as every Christian has his own; to which he should quietly submit, and carry, with an entire resignation to the will of God, in imitation of his Lord - Gill
      3. The cross is to be born "daily", indicating Jesus was speaking metaphorically - cf. Lk 9:23
      -- To gladly endure whatever hardship one may receive in service to Christ!
    2. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
      1. In the case of the apostles
        1. What they all endured - 1Co 4:9-13
        2. What Paul in particular endured - 2Co 11:23-29
      2. In our case, it may involve being:
        1. Ridiculed - 1Pe 4:4
        2. Reviled (spoken evil of, excluded) - 1Pe 4:4; Mt 5:11; Lk 6:22
        3. Reproached - 1Pe 4:14
        -- All the while, rejoicing that one is honored to suffer for Christ - 1Pe 4:16; Ac 5:40-42

      [With a willingness to deny self and bear one's own cross on a daily basis...]

  3. ONE MUST FOLLOW JESUS
    1. WHAT IT MEANS...
      1. To become His disciple, seeking to become like Him - Lk 6:40; cf. Ro 8:29; 13:14
      2. To accept Him as Lord, doing what He says - Lk 6:46; cf. Col 3:17
      3. To walk in His footsteps, even at great cost - 1Pe 2:21-25
      -- To become a Christian, to let Jesus be your Lord and mentor
    2. HOW IT'S MANIFESTED...
      1. Obeying the gospel of Christ - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
      2. Observing all He and His apostles commanded - Mt 28:20; Ac 2:42; 1Co 14:37
      3. Ever growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ - 2Pe 3:18
      -- Putting Jesus on in baptism, and then living with Him - Ga 3:27; 2:20
CONCLUSION
  1. The cost of discipleship may seem rather high...
    1. One must deny self
    2. One must take up one's cross
    3. One must follow Jesus
  2. But as Jesus explains, there are only two choices... - Mk 8:35
    1. One can try to save his life himself, but will end up losing it - cf. Jn 8:24
    2. One can lose his life for Jesus' sake and the gospel's, and wind up saving it! - cf. Re 2:10 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. - Mk 8:35

In view of eternity, there is only one viable choice: endure the high cost of discipleship, and receive the blessings of eternal life...!