The Nature of Discipleship
TRANSLATION
(18) Now one day when Jesus was praying alone and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (19) And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others that one of the prophets of old has come back to life.” (20) Then he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter responded, “God’s Messiah.” (21) Then Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone (22) saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.”
(23) And he said to all, “If someone desires to be my disciple, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. (24) For whoever wants to save their life shall lose it, but whoever is willing to lose their life for my sake, the same shall save it. (25) For what is the profit if someone (were to) gain the whole world and lose or forfeit their own self? (26) Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of them will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own glory, the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. (27) But I tell you truly that there are some who stand here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
OBSERVATIONS
This passage was structured in two segments which may, at first, seem unrelated. The first focused on Jesus’ identity in the understanding of the disciples. The second was concerned with the nature of discipleship. Upon further consideration, it becomes clear that the two are related in a cause/effect relationship. If Jesus really is “God’s Messiah” as Peter confessed, then we, his disciples, are left with no option but to yield ourselves completely to his lordship as the “save his life/lose his life” wording so aptly terms it. Repetitions included “say that I am” (vss. 18 & 20), “the Son of Man” (vss. 22 & 26), “save their life…lose” as well as “lose their life…save” (vss. 24 & 25), and “ashamed” (twice in vs. 26).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus’ questions encouraged Peter to confess him as God’s Messiah. (18-22)
II. Jesus then warned about the sacrifices that acknowledging him as God’s Messiah will involve. (23-27)
IDEA STATEMENT
Jesus’ identity as God’s Messiah who came to suffer and die for our sins demands that we follow him as his disciples no matter what the cost.
APPLICATION
There exists a clear and compelling logic to the Gospel, a definite cause/effect relationship between knowing first who Jesus is and then following him as his disciple. This passage strongly supports this understanding. If Jesus really is God’s Messiah as Peter boldly confessed, the one who came to suffer and die and be raised back to life, then logic compels us to follow him no matter what the cost. Who we believe Jesus to be will inevitably determine how we relate to him, that is, becoming his disciples. This also helps us understand the difference between salvation by faith and discipleship. The first is the free gift of God. The second is a commitment that will cost us everything. It is one thing to say to Jesus, “I believe that you are God’s Messiah” as Peter and the other disciples did. It is a far greater commitment to take up our cross daily and follow him to death if need be.
The economic terms, “gain…loss…profit,” used by Jesus to describe the consequences of choosing to become his disciples, may at first seem crass. However, Jesus knew exactly what he was saying and why he was using such economic terms. When we consider what we must give up to follow him, we need to “count the cost” to make sure that we are ready to make whatever sacrifices are required of us when we choose to follow him as his disciples.