March 3, 1999

LIFE & WORK:
Commitment to Christian
discipleship is costly
___ Mark 8:27-38
___By Doug Riggs
___Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Bedford
___Commitment is a dying concept at the end of this century. Contracts mean very little when unhappiness sets in. Businesses structure leases with shorter terms because people are no longer willing to commit their time or money to longer periods. Half of all marriages end in divorce. Volunteers fail to show up as promised. Employers and employees often use each other rather than keep each other's best interests at heart.
___In the midst of a generation where commitment is dying, Jesus still proclaims the necessity of absolute loyalty for one who wishes to be his disciple. The life of faith remains costly whether a person lives in a free society or a country where Christianity is illegal. In either case, discipleship requires death.
___ Costly because of Jesus' person (Mark 27-30). Many remain as confused about the identity of Jesus today as they were during his earthly ministry. Jesus questioned his disciples about their understanding. Complimenting Jesus falls short of true commitment and the inevitable cost involved in following him (v. 28). One may look favorably upon Jesus as a teacher or prophet, but until a person recognizes Jesus' unique relationship with God, one cannot know truth. Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah (v. 29).
___On the heels of this great confession, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone of his identity (v. 30). Jesus knew he had to redefine what it meant to be the Messiah to counter erroneous popular belief. Being the Messiah would cost him dearly.
___ Costly because of God's plan (Mark 31-33). Jesus spelled out clearly God's plan for salvation: suffering, rejection, death and resurrection (v. 31). Peter represented those who could not comprehend a suffering Messiah. As well- meaning as he might have been, Jesus rebuked him (v. 33). Satan appears in many forms, but Jesus recognized the temptation immediately. No shortcut could remove the cost of God's plan.
___ Costly because of demanded devotion (34-38). On another occasion Jesus reminded his disciples that they would be treated the same way as their master (Matt. 10:24-25; John 15:18-21). Therefore, discipleship is as costly to the follower as Jesus' mission was to him. To follow Jesus, one must deny self and take up his cross (v. 34).
___We often confuse "taking up our cross" as bearing a burden or even possessing the willingness to die. However, the Bible clearly requires death from every believer (Gal. 2:20). Jesus' death was quite literal. Death on the part of the believer may be literal in the form of martyrdom, but it must always include the spiritual in the giving up of self (v. 35). One cannot experience salvation any other way. Indeed, a person may keep his life and even gain the whole world (the temporal and material). But in the process he will lose his life and forfeit his soul in eternity (vv. 35-36). The outcome of one who freely gives up life is much different. This person will receive salvation and new life (v. 35).

---

Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!