The message of the cross Involves Suffering
Jesus begins to explain to the disciples that He must
be arrested, suffer, and die a miserable death to save the world of sin. Peter
doesn’t buy it. This does not fit into his plan or agenda. For Peter, that was
not the kind of Messiah he was looking for. As Peter begins to rebuke Jesus,
the Savior puts Peter in his place. This is the type of suffering Jesus must
endure if we are to find any satisfaction from the Father.
Jesus will speak in terms of wasting one’s life and
investing one’s life. What is the difference between wasting and
investing? How are we to act
accordingly? This morning we will see that the way of the cross involves
suffering for the Christian. But how? What Jesus teaches we should put into
practice –
The way of
the cross involves suffering.
I. Deny self – V.34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If
anyone would come after me, he must deny himself” Mark 8:34
A. How can
people in this affluent and comfortable age be convinced of this reality? We
are constantly told by the wisdom of this world to do our own thing, to do what
makes us feel good – regardless of the consequences. The perception of this
world is that suffering is only for the weak. It is therefore to be avoided at
all cost. We’ve been advised to steer clear of anything painful or
uncomfortable.
B. The way
to a crown is through a cross. Jesus endured the cross with a sense of joy for
He knew of its victorious end. Joy is not merely frivolity and amusement. There
is a deeper meaning to your joy which comes through the cross. As you endure
the crosses placed in your life you share in the hope of God’s glory. Christian
suffering – your suffering is prescribed by the Great Physician. We suffer with
the expectation that we will reign with God in glory.
Transition:
The way of the cross involves suffering. It is done when we deny ourselves. It
is done when we lose ourselves.
II. Lose self – V.35 “For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
and for the gospel will save it.” - Mark 8:35
A. In an
attempt to save your life you could very well lose it! Life can add up to zero!
For years the Negro College Fund Appeal had, as its slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
Jesus called Judas Iscariot a “son of
perdition.” Perdition simply means “a
waste.” Judas Iscariot was one who wasted his life when he sold out Jesus
for thirty silver coins. Jesus said it would have been better if he had not
been born! Jesus recognized that it was a temptation not to go to the cross.
Jesus would hear nothing of the sort. To save your life He sacrificed His own –
He calls you to do nothing but the same.
B. Our life
is salvaged when we lose our life for Christ and for the Gospel. We follow the
way of the cross through denial, suffering and sacrifice. It is in losing one’s
life in service to Christ that one reaps life that is abundant and free. A
tragedy of life is to waste this precious, once-in-a-lifetime life.
Transition:
The way of the cross involves suffering. We deny ourselves, we lose ourselves.
We crucify ourselves.
III. Crucify self – V.34 “take up
his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
A. Take up
your cross. The rugged cross means a rugged way of life for a follower of
Christ. The Christian style of life is a hard life. An author once wrote, “No
cross is so extreme, as to have none. There is no gain without pain!” It was
said that President Truman had a sign on his desk which read: “Bring me only
bad news. Good news weakens me!”
B. We follow
after Christ. His yoke is easy and His burden light. Without Him we will but
stumble. Following in His wake He leads us throughout this human pilgrimage
until we reach the goal and our work is done. As we follow along this path
there will be dark days and lonely valleys yet our Captain knows the way. He’s
walked the path of suffering only to come out victorious. As He leads our
sufferings and crosses are made palatable. Lent is a time of suffering – yet it
is suffering which we can endure.
To His image e’er conform;
Heaven’s glory soon will please us.
Sunshine follows on the storm.
Tho’ we sow in tears of sorrow,
We shall reap in heav’nly joy;
And the fears that now annoy
Shall be laughter on the morrow,
Christ I suffer here with Thee;
There, oh, share Thy joy with me!
Passive Sentences –15%
Readability-80.4%
Reading Level -4.8
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