The Gospel of Mark: Taking up the Cross

(Jesus) called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”~ Mark 8:34-9:1


Some more about what it means to follow Jesus...

For many of Mark's hearers/readers, they literally may have lost their lives to be a follower. Early Christian martyrs were plentiful!

But clearly not all of us are being asked to give up of physical lives for Jesus.

So what might we be asked to give up?

Our egos?

Our need to be right?

Our way of doing things?

Our extra material possessions when others have so little?

Our personal freedoms?

To lose one's life doesn't always mean actually dying. But it might mean killing off something in ourselves that is keeping us from living the life that Christ calls us to.

Again, following Christ isn't about power. It's about surrender. For us 21st century folks, that's not how we are used to the world working.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Questions:


What things do you feel you are being called to surrender in order to follow Jesus?

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