The Obsession with Possession

 Losing the Turnover Battle

Sports fans know that turnovers can be the real enemy. Victory is almost impossible when your team keeps giving away the ball or puck to your opponent. Coaches lose sleep over losing the turnover battle.

There’s such an obsession with possession that teams take extreme measures in practice. Football coaches will soak the old pigskin in water to simulate playing in the rain. Defenses teach techniques that cause fumbles and interceptions.

Keeping It through Losing It

Funny thing about turnovers in real life. Jesus says they’re actually a good thing…for you to do! During a team meeting in Mark’s Gospel, He encourages His players to give away their most precious possession, their very own life (Mk 8:34-38). And here’s the crazy thing. That’s the only way you can really hang onto it.

Yeah, you read that right. A follower of Jesus needs to drop their obsession with possession of their life if they really want to keep it. The key to winning the ultimate turnover battle as a disciple is to lose it intentionally.

Who Is He?

It’s just the latest mind bending moment for the original Dirty Dozen here in John Mark’s bio of the Son of God. As His popularity skyrockets and the crowds get larger and larger, He keeps His true identity a closely guarded secret.

Oh, there are lots of wild guesses about who He really is. Religious bigwigs believe He’s straight from Satan (Mk 3:22). His own family thinks He’s come unhinged (Mk 3:21). Folks from His hometown see Him as a source of scandal (Mk 6:3). Even the members of His team can’t figure it out (Mk 4:41).

A Growing Buzz

But most people know there’s something special, dare they say, even supernatural about the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. Could He be one of those prophetic hall of famers come back from the dead (Mk 6:14-16; 8:28)?

There’s a growing buzz that Jesus may actually be Messiah, the long awaited Hero from heaven sent by God to save the day. That’s the setting as the camera zooms in on our Savior and His crew in the suburbs of the mountain resort of Caesarea Philippi.

Rocky Gets It Right

It’s at this point that the disciple He’s nicknamed Rocky says out loud what many are thinking. “You are the Messiah” (Mk 8:29). Matthew lets us know that Jesus tells Pete that he’s nailed it (Mt 16:17-18).

Before the boys have a chance to celebrate this amazing news, Christ crushes their expectations. Oh, He’s the Messiah alright. But He’s not THAT kind of Messiah. His path to victory is through suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection (Mk 8:31). Seems they missed the whole resurrection part.

That’s Crazy Talk!

Moments after Peter puts together the pieces of the puzzle to call Him the Christ, the leader of the disciples tells Jesus He’s doing it all wrong (Mk 8:32). Doesn’t He realize that Messiahs aren’t snubbed, tortured, and crucified? That’s just crazy talk!

Jesus makes it clear that this is EXACTLY His messianic mission. He looks right in Pete’s eyes, calls him “Satan,” and says that kind of attitude gets in the way of what He’s come to do (Mk 8:33).

That’s What It’s All about

That’s when Christ calls the crowd in so they can hear a very important announcement (Mk 8:34). There are three steps to the discipleship dance. One, put down your life. Two, pick your cross. Three, follow your Lord. Forget the Hokey Pokey. THIS is what it’s all about!

Talking Turnovers

Before anybody can take that first step, Jesus then starts talking turnovers. “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (v35). Drop your obsession with possession. The only way to win is by truly losing.

Can’t you just see the puzzled expressions on the faces in the crowd? If I was there, I have no doubt that I would be looking back at the Lord like my dog looks at television.

What in the world are You talking about?!? If I want to keep my life, I have to lose it? Giving myself away intentionally is the only I can actually set myself free? What sort of bizarro, upside-down world is the Son of God describing?

An Apparent Contradiction from Christ

Well, the best thing for us to do is unpack a few things that help us understand what sure sounds like a complete contradiction from Christ. Let’s start with what Jesus refers to as “life.” This is the Greek word ψυχη/psuche.

We see this term four times in just three verses (v35-37). So getting a grip on what our Savior’s talking about it is kind of a big deal. Ψυχη/Psuche has a LOT of different meanings which vary depending on how it’s used.

The Real You

Sometimes it describes the mind. It’s actually where we get our word psychology. It can also be talking about physical life. You’ll find other places where we translate it as “heart” (Mt 26:38; Eph 6:6; Heb 12:3). Other times it means your soul or your inmost being.

So which one is it here? What Jesus is talking about in this context is the real you. Think of it this way. Your soul is your true self. You’re not a body with a soul. It’s actually the other way around. You’re a soul with a body.

The Survival of Your Earth Suit

Stew on that idea just a moment. Your existence is NOT dependent on the survival of your earth suit. God fearfully and wonderfully created our physical anatomy as a very awesome but very temporary container. No matter how often you hit the gym, your anatomy has an expiration date.

When it finally stops working, your body may be available for viewing at the visitation. I’m sure you’ll appreciate folks stopping by but he real you will be long gone by the time your funeral rolls around.

Saving Yourself by Losing Yourself

The big idea here is that the only way to truly save yourself is to lose yourself. The word the NLT translates “hang on to” (Gr. σωζω/sozo) the same word we find elsewhere that means to save, keep safe and sound, rescue from danger, or preserve.

It’s how the writers of the New Testament describe how Jesus has come to save us from our selves (Mt 1:21; 10:22; 18:11; Mk 16:16; Lk 8:12; 13:23; 19:10; Jn 3:17; 5:34; 10:9; 12:47). Sure, the heroes of both Marvel and DC have some sweet powers, but they don’t hold a candle to the ultimate Superhero from Heaven who’s come to our rescue.

Our Only Shot

That’s because we can’t save ourselves. Oh, you can try. But but just ain’t happening, boys and girls. One of the greatest religious superstars in the history of Judaism breaks the bad news. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom 3:23). Did you catch how he says “everyone” and “all”? That includes you and me.

Doubling Down on Jesus

Our only shot is by placing our trust in Jesus. He lived the perfect life that we failed to live. He died the death for our sin and rebellion against God that we should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that we don’t deserve. That’s the VERY Good News!

When we double down on what the Lord has done for us and follow His leadership, He trades His perfection for the dumpster fire I’ve made my life. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2Cor 5:21).

Let It Go!

In other words, we can’t possibly save ourselves. So take Elsa’s advice and “Let it go! Let it go!” (Your welcome for the ear worm!) Forget all this self-actualization psychobabble about finding your true self. The only way to maintain your true self is to drop it like a bad habit.

Losing your yourself is letting it all go. Your wants. Your dreams. Your pride. Your priorities. Cough ‘em up. Jesus has something SO much better for you. A little something He likes to call the “rich and satisfying life” (Jn 10:10). And He can’t give it to you when your hands are full.

An Endless Series of Selfies

Christ says the key to actually saving our lives is totally embracing Him as well as the incredibly Good News He came to bring. It’s hard to love others, serve others, and tell others about Jesus when we’re busing filling my Instagram feed with an endless series of selfies.

The Lord is calling us to turn our phones around and get our focus off ourselves. Ending the obsession with possession is a Me Third attitude. What does that mean? God first. Others second. Me third.

Return on Investment

Remember, we’re NOT giving away ourselves forever. Losing the turnover battle on this side eternity is how we actually get our life back big time for the rest of time. Could there be a more awesome example of delayed gratification?

An apostle named Paul puts it this way. “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2Cor 4:17).

That means sacrificing ourselves for others now is actually an investment in eternity. There’s not a 401k or mutual fund anywhere that can match that kind of return on investment!

Our Savior’s Selfless Sacrifice

If you’re looking for the perfect example of what this looks like, look no further than Jesus Himself. In a letter to his friends in Phillipi, that guy Paul quotes the lyrics of a popular worship tune to make his point about the selfless sacrifice of our Savior.

“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave us His divine privileges; 

He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

“When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself to God and died a criminals death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the highest place of honor and gave Him the name above all other names” (Phil 2:6-9).

Self-Help Is No Help

Nobody gave up more of themselves than the Lord. Nobody got more in return. Christ won the turnover battle by losing it. I love how the Message puts it. “Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, My way, to saving yourself, your true self” (v35 The Message).

You actually find your true self when you lose yourself by following Jesus and serving others. Stop playing the game of life so conservatively. Live with wild abandon. Leave it all on the field. Don’t hold anything back in how you love, give, and live for others.

Draining Our Eternal Account

Jesus goes on to warn that selfishly trying to get it all now actually drains our eternal account. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (v36). He can’t state it strongly enough. There’s no great early withdrawal penalty.

In doing so, the Lord actually uses the language of a financial advisor. “Benefit” (Gr. ωφελεω/opheleo) comes from a root word meaning to accumulate or pile up. “Gain” (Gr. κερδαινω/kerdaino) describes a proactive measure to avoid a loss.

He warns against piling up a massive portfolio in an aggressive attempt to simply avoid earthly bankruptcy. Over in Luke’s Gospel, Christ advises a wealthy up-and-comer how we’ll never find life in the pile of our stuff (Lk 12:15). It’s clear this hot shot has an obsession with his possessions.

Self-Inflicted Violence

Oh, your financial statement may impress Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but also causes unexpected collateral damage when you “lose your own soul” (v36). The word behind “lose” is ζημιοω/zemio’o, which comes from a root word describing violent destruction and suffering.

When Paul’s ship is caught in a hurricane, he tries his best to convince the captain that “there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss (Gr. ζημιοω/zemio’o) of cargo, and danger to our lives as well” (Acts 27:10). They’re about to be slammed on the rocks!

Jesus isn’t just talking about the inconvenience of losing your car keys. He wants us to understand the self-inflicted violence we experience when our own greed rips out our very soul. Just so you know, “soul” is ψυχη/psuche, the same word the NLT translates as “life” twice verse 35.

A Huge Steaming Pile

The apostle formerly known as Saul actually uses a couple of these very same Greek terms in describing the value of knowing Jesus to his friend in Philippi.

Paul has “discarded (Gr. ζημιοω/zemio’o) everything else” and now considers it all to be a huge steaming pile (yes, that’s EXACTLY what he says!), “so that I could gain (Gr. κερδαινω/kerdaino) Christ” (Phil 3:8).

Losing the Real You

After laying out all the facts about the foolishness of trying to hang onto your life, Jesus has a question for the crowd He’s gathered. “Is anything worth more than your soul?” (v37).

The folks at the NLT have actually paraphrased the original language here. A closer word-for-word translation might be, “For what shall a person exchange their true self?” What’s worth losing the real you?

Bueller? Bueller?

I have to wonder. When the Lord asks His question, does He wait for folks to respond? Does He just let it sit there like an 800-pound gorilla? I picture this as the First Century version of “Bueller? Bueller?” Nobody makes eye contact. Lots of sandal shuffling. Nothing but crickets.

While the people ponder Christ’s uncomfortable question, He takes things up a notch. “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (v38).

Gulp.

Check the Reviews

If you’re more concerned about becoming rich and famous at the cost your true self here on earth, you clearly have zero interest in spending eternity with Jesus. The Son of God certainly isn’t going to force you into hanging out with Him forever when you don’t want to now.

This is another reminder of the old saying that the gates of hell are locked from the inside. We get to reserve our location for the afterlife now. Like VRBO and AirBnB, it’s a good idea to check the reviews before booking. This one’s a no brainer.

When the Going Gets Tough

What His followers don’t realize is there will be plenty of reasons to be ashamed and bail on Jesus. Just you wait. As a matter of fact, most of His personal posse will punk out down the stretch.

Judas will sell Him out for a handful of silver. Pete will fold up like a cheap suit when a middle school girl asks him a couple of questions. When the going gets tough, the not-so-tough will get going…in the opposite direction.

The Object of Our Faith

But it’s not like the Lord is looking for a reason to kick us to the eternal curb. He knows our trust in Him can be all over the place. It’s not a matter of the strength of our faith but the strength of the object of our faith. And there’s no stronger object of our faith than Jesus.

Let me give you an example. A little later in Mark, we meet a father who’s trust in God is in trouble when an evil spirit tortures his son. This desperate dad begs Jesus for help. Christ reassures him, “Anything is possible if a person believes” (Mk 9:23).

He Remains Faithful

The man responds with one of the most honest answers you’ll ever hear. “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24). That’s because we’re all unbelievers to some extent on this side of heaven.

This guy trusts in Jesus’ unwavering faithfulness rather than his own wobbling faith. It’s like what Paul tells his buddy Timothy. “If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are faithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is” (2Tim 2:12-13).

He’s Coming Back

Meanwhile, there’s something else going on in Jesus’ statement to the crowd. This is very first time our Savior talks about His second coming in the second Gospel. He’s promising to make an encore unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

The Son of God will go into much more detail with the guys later on the Mount of Olives (Mk 13:1-37). But He’s coming back again. You can take that to the bank. If we don’t claim Christ during our lifetime, why should He claim us when He returns?

Trading Your Life for the Temporary

In the meantime, let’s do everything possible to win the ultimate turnover battle by losing our lives. Self-sacrifice is the only way to find your true self. Trading your life for the temporary isn’t worth it.

Don’t become a victim of your obsession with possession.

©2018

Jay Jennings

Gimme Three Steps

My Inner Redneck

Pardon me while I channel my inner redneck. Back in my high school days back during a previous millennium and living in a small midwestern town, I loved me some Lynyrd Skynyrd. Yeah, I admit it.

These guys pretty much invented southern rock while they cranked out one hit after another. Sweet Home Alabama. Call Me the Breeze. And of course, Free Bird.

Dance Lessons

But my personal Skynyrd fave is a little ditty called Gimme Three Steps. It’s all about a dude needing to make a quick escape from local establishment after an encounter with a jealous boyfriend.

Did you know that the title of that tune are basically dance lessons Jesus gives His own disciples (Mk 8:35-38)? A commitment to Christ consists of three moves. Putting down your life. Picking up your cross. Following your Lord.

Gimme three steps.

Simple, Not Easy

Three simple steps. But don’t mistake simple for easy. And that’s exactly Jesus’ big point. Following Him won’t be easy. But it WILL be worth it. So VERY worth it.

If you’ve been following along in Mark’s bio of Jesus, we’ve reached a huge turning point here in chapter 8. Not surprising, it comes as part of another three pack. Noticing a trend here?

Another Three Pack

First of all, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth has finally admitted He’s the Messiah, the Hero from heaven everyone’s been waiting for (Mk 8:29).

Second, Jesus announces He’s NOT the kind of Christ the people are expecting. Instead of leading a revolution against Rome, He’ll wage war against sin through suffering, rejection, and execution (Mk 8:31).

Which brings us to point number three: The characteristics of a Christ follower. This is kinda like watching Seth Curry and the Warriors lettin’ ‘em fly in the NBA Finals. Splash!!

Draining Threes

Before you think the crowd is just going wild watching Jesus drain threes, think again. His own righthand man checks the Lord and gets a hand in His face (Mk 8:32-33). Peter tells Him to stop all this death talk.

The next thing you know, Christ tells Pete that he’s playing for the wrong team and goes so far as to call his buddy “Satan.” Note to self, trying to hijack God’s agenda for my own purposes is a big mistake.

Rocky and the rest of the posse just don’t get it. It won’t be long before he turns his back on the Lord three times (yeah, another three…I told you it’s a running theme) and a rooster crows twice.  At that point, Peter will know EXACTLY what Jesus is talking about! 

A Deeper Lesson for a Larger Audience

Which brings us to Jesus’ three steps of discipleship. The Lord begins by assembling everyone. “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples” (v34). Several big time Bible experts say Christ is turning His rebuke of Rocky into a deeper lesson for a larger audience.

Just who’s in this crowd? They could be the folks who followed at a distance when they left Bethsaida (Mk 8:22). They could locals from the villages near Caesarea Philippi (Mk 8:27). Chances are, it’s both.

Accepting All Comers

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. Jesus makes it clear this applies to ALL of us! “If ANY OF YOU wants to be My follower…” (v34 emphasis added). It doesn’t make a hill of beans where you call home, your ethnic background, your financial situation, or religious tradition. If you want to follow Christ, you can. He doesn’t care what boxes you check. He accepts all comers.

Junk in Your Trunk

Maybe you’ve got your doubts about all of that. Maybe you think there’s no way the Lord can look the other way after what you’ve done. I’ve got news for you. VERY Good News. He’s a WAY better Savior than you are a sinner.

Don’t believe me? Did you know that Jesus’ top spokesperson in the First Century was a guy who used to arrest, torture, and kill the followers of Christ? I’m not making that up. Before he became Paul the apostle, he was Saul the assassin. If the Lord can forgive him, He can handle any of the sinful junk in your trunk.

A Spiritual Seal Team Six?

The other big idea here is that disciples aren’t some sort of spiritual Seal Team Six for Jesus. God doesn’t give you that label when He calls you up to the major leagues of faith. He makes it clear. To simply follow Him is to be a disciple. 

The Lord’s previous announcement that He’s the Messiah who will suffer, die, and rise again was just for those closest to Him. This next announcement concerns everybody. He wants everyone to know what it will cost to follow Him.

NOT Seeker Sensitive

Jesus calls everybody in. Y’all need to hear this. He’s about to drop some very important knowledge. Everybody listen up. What He’s about to say is NOT just about more free food, another miraculous magic show, or the First Century version of a TED Talk.

What He’s about to say will probably clear out a good bit of the big crowd. I’m pretty sure no one would classify His announcement is seeker sensitive. You see, following Jesus may be free, but it does come with a cost. A cost with three moves.

Gimme three steps.

Step One

Step one. “You must give up your own way” (v34). Whatever was at the top of your life goals, cross it off. As a matter of fact, wad up that list and toss it in the trash. Then take out the trash. Bury the trash. And then bury the shovel.

The Greek verb the NLT translates as “give up” (Gr. απερνεομαι/aperneomai) describes to deny strongly, totally reject, and completely disown. It’s the very same word the Gospel writers use when Peter rejects Jesus not once, not twice, but three times in His hour of need (Mt 26:34-35, 75; Mk 14:30-31, 72; Lk 22:34, 61; Jn 13:38). Yup, another three.

A Kung Fu Grip

We can easily read step one as “reject yourself totally.” Let’s be honest. Most of us have a kung fu grip on our personal agenda. From the outside, we may look humble and holy but deep on the inside we’re constantly trying to manipulate our circumstances to get what we want.

My problem is that my hands are full. Full of myself! Jesus has something WAY better for me than what I think I want. He has what I really need. And God can’t put something better in my hands if I won’t put down all the crapola I’m carrying.

Crud Compared to Christ

Take it from the apostle formerly known as Saul. He spent most of his life building up a religious resume that he thought would impress everybody…including God! There’s just one little problem. He eventually discovers that everything else is crud compared to knowing Christ.

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ, and become one with Him” (Phil 3:7-8).

A Big Steaming Pile

Here’s a little something something you didn’t hear in Sunday school. That word Paul uses that’s translated as “garbage” (Gr. σκυβαλον/skubalon) actually describes a big, steaming pile. That’s what you’re carrying around. That’s what Jesus wants you to put down. So drop it like it’s hot.

Jesus Take the Wheel

This is what’s called self-denial. It’s never been a popular message but in our selfie-centered, look-at-me society, it’s not exactly trending on Twitter. At best, we might allow Jesus to be our co-pilot.

But Christ says we need to scoot over. “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am” (v34 The Message). In the words of the great theologian Carrie Underwood, “Jesus take the wheel!”

Step Two

That brings us to step number two. Now that our hands are empty, the Lord has something He’d like to hand us. He says you can be sure you’re one of His followers when you “take up your cross” (v34).

“Take up your cross,” you say. Hmm, I wonder what this says in the original Greek. It means exactly what it says. Jesus gives His disciples the most gruesome form of torture and execution the world has ever seen.

Too Disgusting to Describe

We see the cross today as jewelry hanging on a necklace or sitting on top a towering steeple. But in Jesus’ day, the Romans used the cross as a brutal means of capital punishment for rebels and insurrectionists against the empire.

Did you know that Mark and the other writers of the New Testament never go into great and gory detail in order to explain the cross. They don’t have to. Everybody knows what it means. It’s WAY too disgusting to describe. It’s not something you discuss in polite company.

Dying a Criminal’s Death

Jesus models the ultimate in self-denial when He willingly accepts the cross. In a letter to his friends in Philippi, Paul quotes the lyrics of an early praise and worship song about Christ to get that point across.

“Though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8).

A Dead Man Walking

We can’t begin to wrap our brains around all that Jesus left to come to our rescue. He gave up His life in paradise in order to come and live ours. He took up the cross that was meant for us. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Mark alludes to the fact that the condemned would have to carry their own cross to their own death. It would be no different for Jesus on that bloody Friday (Jn 19:17). Is there a more grisly description of a dead man walking?

My Custom Designed Cross

But notice you are to “take up YOUR cross” (v34 emphasis added). Christ carries His own cross to His execution. We carry our own cross to our salvation. We each bear our own cross…not somebody else’s! God has one custom designed just for you and just for me.

In other words, each one of us faces our own specific burden when it comes to following Christ. Every follower can count on some sort of suffering as a result of their faith. But my cross is different from the one you carry.

The Hard Road Ahead

This is Jesus’ way of prepping us for what’s ahead. Just like He tells His team the night before His own death, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (Jn 16:33). It’s like a Gospel Google Maps telling us there’s a VERY hard road ahead!

But our Savior doesn’t simply say, “Yeah, good luck with that.” Nope. Just the opposite. “But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Sometimes your cross is extremely heavy. Sometimes it’s not so bad. But yours is nothing compared to the crushing cross Christ carried for you and me.

NOT a Lukewarm Latte

Let’s take a moment to talk about what taking up your cross DOESN’T mean. Can we be honest? Suffering is not something the followers of Jesus face much in the United States. At least at this point.

Taking up your cross is NOT when the barista gets your name wrong and gives you a lukewarm latte. It’s NOT being asked to work weekends. It’s NOT the government mandating unisex bathrooms.

Meanwhile, our brothers and sisters around the world are carrying unimaginable crosses. In many parts of the world, publicly professing your faith in Christ will get you tortured and killed. Instead of crying in our triple venti non-fat caramel macchiato, we need to be praying for those who are truly suffering for their belief.

Jesus Tips His Hand

One other point about Jesus’ mention of how you should “take up your cross” (v34). After describing His eventual betrayal, torture, and murder (Mk 8:31), Jesus tips His hand as to how it will happen. Crucifixion.

What’s the bottom line for you and me when it comes to this cross carrying business? I think the Message paraphrase of this verse says it best. “Don’t run from suffering; embrace it” (v34 The Message).

Step Three

Jesus brings us to step three, “Follow Me” (v34). The idea here comes from a Greek term (Gr. ακολουθεω/akoloutheo) which literally describes traveling down the road together. We saw the same word earlier in the verse when Christ says, “My follower (Gr. ακολουθεω/akoloutheo)” (v34).

Following Jesus means walking the road of life with Him. We go where goes. We stop where He stops. We love who He loves. We do what He does. It’s NOT carefully following a complicated list of righteous dos and sinful don’ts. It’s following His example.

Hanging around the Savior

As we said before, disciples are regular folks like you and me. They’ve simply placed their trust in who He is, what He’s done, and where He’s leading. Disciples follow Jesus. They hang around the Savior. They watch how He lives and loves. Then they do it themselves.

Gimme three steps.

Not a March

There you have them. I love how Pete Briscoe calls discipleship a dance. Too many of us mistake it for a march. It’s not. It’s a dance. Following Jesus is like taking dance lessons.

The three steps are simple. One, put down your life. Two, pick your cross. Three, follow your Lord. Like we said, it’s simple but far from easy. But the awesome thing is that Jesus also gives us the strength to make those moves.

Bust a Move

As believers, Christ calls us out on the dance floor. It’s like at a wedding reception when the DJ plays a tune that gets the crowd going. Now that you know the steps, it’s time to bust a move.

Jesus says, “Go ahead. Gimme three steps.”

©2018

Jay Jennings

When Jesus Calls You "Satan"

Picking up a Nickname

If you’ve played team sports, chances are you picked up a nickname. Maybe more than one. No, not a shortened version of the name your parents gave you. Sorry, that doesn’t count.

I’m talking about one of those labels you get from your teammates, coaches, or maybe even the fans. Hopefully it’s something awesome like Magic, Crazy Legs, or Dr. J. Maybe even one with a sweet “the” before it, like the Babe, the Crime Dog, or the Big Hurt.

Then there are those nicknames that are, shall we say, less than flattering. How would like somebody slapping you with something like the Muscle Hamster, No Neck, or Stink? Yeah, me neither.

It’s Just What Dudes Do

Did you know some of Jesus’ disciples have awesome nicknames? When a bunch of guys hang out together for three and a half years, it’s just bound to happen. I mean, it’s just what dudes do.

Jesus calls brothers James and John the “Sons of Thunder” (Mk 3:17). How cool is THAT?!? The Lord also changes Simon’s name to Peter which basically means Rocky (Jn 1:42).

A Terrible Tag

And then there’s the time Christ calls that very same Pete “Satan” (Mk 8:32-33). Yeah, you read that right. The Son of God actually calls the leader of His disciples Lucifer. I’m not sure there’s a more terrible tag than that! If it’s up to me, I’d rather go by Stink.

The crazy thing is that just moments before, Rocky’s the first one of the guys to call Jesus the “Messiah” (Mk 8:29). That results in the Lord giving Peter a nifty “attaboy” (Mt 16:17).

Pushing Our Plans Down God’s Throat

But in a New York minute, Christ suddenly calls the former commercial fisherman Satan.  What in the Wide World of Sports just went down? When we take a closer look at this passage, we’ll see that anytime we try to push our plans down God’s throat, it’s satanic.

Playing a Guessing Game

Let’s rewind a bit for context. The first major chunk of John Mark’s bio of Jesus is basically a guessing game (Mk 1:1-8:26). Folks are trying to figure out the true identity of the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.

Oh, there’s no lack of theories. Jesus’ own family thinks He’s off His religious rocker (3:21). Folks back in His hometown aren’t all that impressed (Mk 6:1-3).

The Buzz on the Street

The Jewish religious leaders blow a gasket when our Savior starts forgiving sin (Mk 2:6) and come to believe He’s on assignment straight from the pit of hell (Mk 3:22).

The buzz on the street seems to point to Him being John the Baptizer, Elijah, or one of the other prophetic hall of famers (Mk 6:14-15; 8:28).

Putting the Pieces Together

The Lord’s personal posse has a front row seat for one miracle after another and freak out at the possibility of who He might be. After He shuts down a late night storm on the lake, they openly ask each other who the heck is this Guy?!? (Mk 4:41).

Ultimately the Son of God reveals His true identity to the Twelve during a little mountain retreat. That’s when Pete puts the pieces of the puzzle together to say He’s the Christ (Mk 8:29). But Jesus blindsides them and says He’ll be betrayed, tortured, and brutally murdered (Mk 8:31).

A Deeper Dive

That’s where we pick up the story in Mark’s Gospel. After initially blowing their expectations of what the Messiah will do and be, Jesus takes a deeper dive into what His mission will look like.

We read how “He talked openly about this with His disciples” (v32). While Matthew’s version of this very same story is nearly identical (Mt 16:21-23), this little factoid is unique to Mark.

An Extended Discussion

A couple of important points from this simple phrase. The tense of the verb here is imperfect. For those of us who aren’t English majors, that just means we can easily translate this as “He was talking.” In other words, this is an extended discussion, not some single, offhand comment.

Jesus not only offers a lengthy messianic explanation, He pulls no punches. See the word “openly?” This is a really cool word in the original language: παρρησια/parresia. It’s the one and only time John Mark uses it in his Gospel.

A Joyful Confidence

The term describes an attitude of joyful transparency that stems from freedom and a lack of fear, often in the face of intimidating circumstances. It’s doing something courageously, confidently, boldly, or frankly.

When Pete preaches His very first sermon at Pentecost, he does it “confidently (Gr. παρρησια/parresia)” (Acts 2:29). Later that same apostle and his buddy John stare down the religious big wigs with “boldness (Gr. παρρησια/parresia)” (Acts 4:13).

The writer of Hebrews encourages the followers of Jesus to “come boldly (Gr. παρρησια/parresia) to the throne of our gracious God” because of all our Savior has done as our great High Priest (Heb 4:16).

Putting the Cookies on the Bottom Shelf

But there’s another important part of this word that helps us here. It also paints a picture of holding nothing back and doing so in a straightforward way. Plain. Clear. Accessible. Uncomplicated.

Jesus puts the cookies on the bottom shelf. This time there are no parables, metaphors, hints, clues, riddles, or veiled allusions. He leaves nothing to chance. The Message puts it this way. “He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it” (v32 The Message).

Unpacking Big Ideas

What a great reminder to all of His followers to keep our language simple and understandable when telling others about Jesus. I’m NOT saying we should dumb down the Gospel. Not in the least! But we need to be able to unpack these eternally important ideas in a way folks can understand.

Let’s do it openly. We need to be plain, clear, accessible, and uncomplicated. Throwing around five dollar theological terms like Penal Substitutionary Atonement without explanation will only result in your listener looking at you like my dog looks at television.

Meanwhile back in Mark’s story, wouldn’t you love to see the looks on the disciples’ faces when He spells out what’s going to happen? But despite Jesus going into great detail about it all, it’s blatantly obvious that the guys still didn’t get it.

Grabbing the God by the Sleeve

We know that because of what happens next. “Peter took Him aside” (v32). The author uses a Greek word (Gr. προσλαμβανω/proslambano) that paints a picture of physically taking hold of someone or something. In this case, that someone is the Savior.

Apparently, Pete grabs the sleeve of Jesus’ robe and yanks the Son of Man to himself for an emergency sidebar. Maybe Rocky doesn’t want to embarrass the Lord in front of the others. Maybe he’s trying to get Christ to understand the impact of what He’s saying on the rest of the team.

Stern Words for the Word

Whatever the motivation, Peter actually scolds his Savior. He “began to reprimand Him for saying such things” (v32). He has a few stern words for the Word. Drop this all death talk right here, right now.

What exactly does the disciple say when he gets in the grill of the Son of God? Flip over to Matthew’s Gospel again. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said, “This will never happen to you!” (Mt 16:22).

That’s Crazy Talk!!

The point of Peter’s pep talk is simple. He and the boys can’t see any reason why the Messiah needs to die. Betrayal? Get outta here!! Suffering? That’s crazy talk!! Murder? Are You out of Your mind?!?

Think about it. Rocky pulls the Lord aside tells Him what the Anointed One is supposed to do and what He’s not! I’m pretty sure if there’s anybody who doesn’t need messianic mentoring, it’s Jesus.

Turning Discipleship Upside Down

The problem is that Pete has turned discipleship upside down. The student doesn’t teach the teacher…ESPECIALLY when the Teacher is the sinless Son of God!! This makes about as much sense as the clay pot telling the potter that he’s doing all wrong (Is 29:16; 45:9).

We all need to back off before we throw Simon Peter under the bus. We all second guess our sovereign God on a regular basis. Why does He allow this? Why doesn’t He stop that?  When we do, we’d better buckle up. He may blow our doors off like He does Job (Job 38-41).

While I’m not saying “Bruce Almighty” has all of its doctrinal ducks in a row, but that flick certainly shows how ridiculous it would be if we had divine decision-making power. That’s because we can’t see what God sees and know what God knows. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Sneaking a Peek

While the Lord and His lead disciple are having their little one-on-one, Christ sneaks a peek at the rest of His team. “Jesus turned around and looked at His disciples” (v33). It’s yet another nugget you’ll only find in Mark.

How would the author know about the Son of God’s glance? Because of his source. You see, the disciples of the very first disciples all believed John Mark’s Gospel is actually Peter’s personal memoir. Early pastors like Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Clement, Tertullian, and Origen all said as much. We’re talking serious heavy hitters here.

Repping the Rest of the Team

So we find this tidbit only in Mark’s story of Jesus because the person who told him about was standing right there! Pete knows because he remembers it firsthand.

Why does the Lord look over His shoulder in the middle Rocky’s reprimand? Probably because Peter’s not just speaking for himself. Many times in the Gospels, he reps the rest of the team when talking to Christ (Mt 18:21; 19:21; Mk 10:28; 11:21; Lk 8:45; 12:41; Jn 13:6-9).

Pump Your Brakes, Pete

Jesus swivels His head back and looks His disciple square in the eye. This has gone far enough. Mark tells us how Christ “then reprimanded Peter” (v33). Slow your roll, Rock. Pump your brakes, Pete.

The word the NLT translates as “reprimanded (Gr. επιτιμαω/epitimao)” makes its third appearance in past four verses. A little earlier, Jesus “warned (Gr. επιτιμαω/epitimao)” His team to keep the news that He’s the Christ on the down low (Mk 8:30).

A Flag on the Play
 
Pete has just “reprimanded (Gr. επιτιμαω/epitimao)” the Lord for all His ridiculous talk of messianic suffering, betrayal, and murder (v32). And before the disciple can finish, Christ throws the flag.

This Greek word can certainly mean to warn, strongly admonish, or even threaten. But it also describes how you can size a certain situation and assess a penalty. In other words, Jesus blows the whistle on Pete. There’s a flag on the play. This one’s coming back.

That Escalated Quickly!

It’s with laundry on the field that the Lord gives His disciple his new nickname. “Get away from Me, Satan!” (v33). One moment Peter tells Jesus “You are the Messiah” (Mk 8:29). Seconds later, our Savior calls him Satan. Well, THAT escalated quickly!

Some people think the documents in what we now call the Bible are heavily edited to make the disciples look good. If I’m Rocky, this story doesn’t make the final edition. This certainly seems to blow that accusation right out of the water.

Jesus Is the Hero

A couple of points to consider. John Mark’s Gospel may be Peter’s story, but it is Peter’s STORY OF JESUS!!! This isn’t the apostle’s autobiography. Pete’s not the point. Just like the rest of story of Scripture from beginning to end, Christ is THE HERO!!

The other point is that Jesus’ closest followers are consistently seen as knuckleheads who just don’t get it. Don’t make the mistake of elevating them to superstar saint status. They’re broken, sinful, garden variety, average people just like you and me. 

The Duel in the Desert

But why would the Son of God seemingly turn on His right hand guy? So glad you asked. We’ll see a connection when we flip over to Matthew’s version of Jesus’ duel in the desert with the devil (Mt 4:1-11).

The tempter wraps up his big pitch by promising our Savior that he’ll give Him every single kingdom of the world. All Jesus has to do is worship him. None of that messy cross business. Talk about the Easy Button!

Hijacking the Heavenly Rescue Mission

How does the Lord respond? “Get out of here, Satan!” (Mt 4:10). There’s no way Christ is going to allow Lucifer to hijack His heavenly search and rescue mission of you and me. And it’s almost the very same words He says to Peter.

You see, Jesus came to do a job. To live the perfect life that we failed to live. Die the death for our disobedience we should have died. To rise to the glorious new life we don’t deserve.

A guy named Paul puts it like this. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2Cor 5:21).

The Ultimate Reserved Seat

Just like showdown with Satan, Pete’s apparent well-meaning advice for the Lord would sidetrack what He’s come to do. If Jesus listens to Rocky’s rebuke, there’s no cross, no “It is finished!”, no empty tomb.

The connection between the Son of Man’s words for the devil and the disciple is this. Anytime we put our plans ahead of God’s, it’s satanic. Period.

Anything less than choosing God’s will puts us on the throne of heaven. And He’s not sharing it. You see, the Almighty’s got the ultimate reserved seat. Don’t make Him ask you to move.

A Problem of Perspective

Christ tells His disciple that this is all a problem of perspective. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (v33). Jesus wants him to know that Pete can’t see what’s going on from where he stands. If he could only see His messianic mission from the eternal angle.

We see the difference in perspective all throughout Scripture. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Is 55:8-9).

Getting on God’s Wavelength

Pete’s friend Paul says the key to getting on God’s wavelength is sharing our Savior’s perspective. “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Phil 2:5).

If not, our objectives are a total waste of time each and every time they conflict with what God wants. “You can make plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail” (Prov 19:21). As the old saying goes, if you want to make God laugh just tell Him your plans.

Pulling No Punches

Before we get our undies in a bundle about Peter, we can relax. We know how his story turns out. Eventually Pete WILL see it God’s way! Rocky pulls no punches in his very first sermon just a few months later.

“God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip” (Acts 2:23-24).

Rocky II

A few days later, Pete does it again. Call it Rocky II. He stares down the Jewish leadership known as the Sanhedrin when they try to put a lid on this whole Jesus-Is-the-Messiah deal.

“For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to His Servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release Him. You rejected this holy, righteous One and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!” (Acts 3:13-15).

God Flips the Script

Here’s what Pete’s point in both messages. Jewish power brokers team and scheme with the most brutal dynasty on the planet in order to kill the Christ. You know what happened? God flips the script on them and uses it accomplish His plan!

But here in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Peter can’t see any of that. He simply sees the One who’s just announced that He’s the long awaited Hero from heaven say He has a date with death.

Attempting to Call an Audible

He steps and attempts to call an audible on Jesus’ game plan of grace. And as a result, the Son of God calls Simon Satan. Ouch. Talk about a bummer of a nickname. Something tells he prefers Rocky.

But that’s what happens anytime we try to push our plans down the Lord’s throat. If it’s not God’s plan, it’s satanic.

©2018
Jay Jennings