Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 4 (weeks 17-20; April 28–May 19, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com.
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Lesson Aim: Trust Jesus’ authority to save you.
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As part of a larger poem, William Ross
Wallace wrote, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the
world.” A fitting tribute to mothers. But what about the God who rocks the
whole world? Can we trust our souls to him? And speaking of “rocks” (a
different nuance), our text today takes place at a huge “rock” about 25 miles
north of the Sea of Galilee.
Clearly this is a highwater mark in the
Gospel narrative. In chapter 8 we shift from the Savior who serves to the
servant who saves. Jesus possesses the authority to save our souls because of
who he is and what he came to do. And he challenged us to follow him. Professor
Seth Wilson adapted an outline from Ernest Beam referring to three large themes
of the New Testament. We will apply that outline to this text.
The Christ | Mark 8:27-30
Jesus was well into his third year of
ministry and about to conclude his ministry in Galilee before heading south to
Jerusalem. It was imperative for him to secure the full devotion of his
disciples. So, he posed a question concerning his identity. The disciples had already
confessed on their own that he was no mere man (Mark 4:41). But this time Jesus asked them for their
confession. This took place at a huge rock formation near the city of
Caesarea Philippi (a pagan area with an opening in a rock formation that was
called the “Gates of Hades”).
Jesus asked what the word on the street
about him was. This was not a case of identity amnesia. The disciples had to be
“all in” concerning who Jesus was or they would never withstand the pressure
they would experience later. They gave him some popular answers. There was a
grain of truth in each response: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the
prophets (Matthew’s account specifically mentions Jeremiah [Matthew 16:14]). Given the various
streams of the Messiah in the Old Testament as well as the additions brought on
by Judaism, no wonder many ideas existed about the Messiah.
But then Jesus narrowed the question, “You
yourselves (this is emphatic in Greek), what do you say?” Peter’s answer could
not have been better, “You are the Messiah”
(Christ or anointed one). Matthew’s account is longer, fleshing out Jesus’
response with blessings and promises. We call it “the good confession” (see 1 Timothy 6:13). Jesus was not
ready for his identity to be fully released so he warned
(the same word for rebuking demons and used by Peter in Mark 8:32) them not to tell anyone about him. Even so, this is the most
important identity issue in the world.
The Cross | Mark 8:31-33
If we know who Jesus is, then we will
embrace his mission. His mission was to die on the cross. There have been
veiled statements about the cross previously in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 2:20), but Jesus spoke plainly (with boldness) about it now. He wanted to
warn the disciples that the road ahead would be rough. Scholars speak about “three
clear predictions” of the cross. In Mark’s Gospel they are located in
successive chapters (8, 9, and
10). With each prediction additional details are given.
Jesus explained that the Son of Man
(his favorite self-designation) would have to (i.e., of divine
necessity) suffer, be rejected by official Judaism, and be killed. The line
that shot right by them was, “and after three days rise again.”
Peter blew a gasket. He could not wrap his mind around a vicariously suffering
Messiah. He rebuked Jesus, and Jesus returned the favor by figuratively referring
to him as “Satan.” One of the most difficult concepts to
accept, even today, is redemptive suffering, but it is the way of God in the
world.
The New Creature | Mark 8:34-38
This is one of the Bible’s most powerful
paragraphs about discipleship. Followers of Jesus (new creatures in Christ)
actually join his mission by sharing in this redemptive suffering. Jesus called
the entire crowd to three imperatives followed by four reasons for following
him.
Denying self means to renounce the idolatry of self-centeredness. Taking up the cross was a Roman metaphor for death. While self-denial and taking up the cross are viewed as completed actions, following is ongoing (i.e., “daily,” see Luke 9:23). These fundamentals of discipleship are followed by a series of reasons for such radical living (each verse starts with “for” in Greek). If we want to save our lives, not forfeit our souls, and be able to stand when the Son of Man returns, then we must follow in the way of cross.
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Lesson study ©2018, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2018 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin.
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