Drew Boswell

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“The Call To Keep Moving Forward” Galatians 4:1-11

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“The Call To Keep Moving Forward”

Galatians 4:1-11

Introduction

Have you ever had a time in your life to where to keep moving forward looked too hard, required more than you thought you had to give, and would take longer than you wanted to spend? As you looked at the road before you, you thought it would be better to turn around and go back.

Exodus 14:11-12 “They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

There is always the temptation to return to the slavery we know than to step out in faith and move toward an unknown future. For the Galatians, they were at a cross roads of wanting to accept a self-righteous approach to religion (even though they had never been Jewish), than to seek through faith to build a close relationship with God. So this morning, I want to encourage you to keep pushing forward in your walk with God, and not turn back to a life that may feel comfortable and know – instead seek to know God differently than you ever have before.

Keep Moving Forward Because You Have Been Adopted and Are Spirit Filled (vv. 1-7)

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

In the family life of Paul’s day, a father would place his children under the care of a tutor. The tutor had complete control over the children. They were told when to get up, when to go to bed, what to wear, where to go, what to study, when to study, for how long to study – every part of their lives was controlled by the tutor. In that sense there was no real difference between the servants of the family, and the children of the family, even though, “though he is the owner of everything.”

The “elementary principles of the world,”[1] are what kept you from inheriting “everything.” The cost of being enslaved to the elementary principles of the world is everything. Elementary principles being religion and morality; “Compulsory obedience to definite rules of justice and order were necessary preparation for the freedom of the Spirit.”[2] Religions and traditions formed a valuable discipline for the education of the world.

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

In Paul’s culture, the father also set a date in the future when the children would be free from that control and inherit what belonged to the family.

Paul has shown earlier that the law was given to push people to understand their need for a Savior – the law explained what sin is, God’s standard of behavior, and how we are then imprisoned with no means of escape because of our rebellion against God, sentenced to death. God gave the law and then waited for it to have its full effect upon mankind. “the fullness of time,” refers to “the completion of the period of preparation in God’s sovereign timetable of redemption.”[3]

(v. 4) “God sent forth his Son, born of woman,” – Jesus had to be both God and man in order to live a sinless life, to completely and perfectly keep the standards and requirements to live a life out before God. He had to be human, born of a woman, to be the perfect substitute – so He could take our place. He came it into the world, and lived a sinless life so that He could, . . .

(v. 5) “to redeem those who were under the law,” – to redeem is to buy back; for the slave it would be to purchase their freedom. Jesus purchased us, He redeemed us by being our substitute – His life exchanged for our lives, our debt was paid by His life. Jesus became the curse on the cross so that our curse of sin could be removed.

“we might receive adoption as sons,” – God could have left us in that state of a freed slave – you are no longer a slave, but you also have nothing. So, He adopted us into His family, as sons.

In the Antebellum south during the time of Reconstruction immediately after the Civil War, the slaves were freed by the ending of the war and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. But they owned no property, no capital, had no education, and with no means of providing for themselves became share croppers. Many previous slaves, as sharecroppers eventually had massive debts owed to the land owners and became essentially slaves all over again. To prevent us, having been freed from sin, to be able to live a life free from bondage “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.” The Holy Spirit (God’s presence within us) is what enables us to now live a life pleasing to God.

Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,. . .”

Orphanage illustration.[4] In the late 1980s in Romania there was a dictator who encouraged his people to have children to drive the population numbers up in an effort to jump start the economy (it went up by 4 million), but he sold the food and food surpluses to foreign countries which he used the money to build himself huge houses and other luxuries and to pay off national debt. So the people starved, and then there was a revolt and the dictator was killed. The world came in to help. It was then that they discovered that unable to take care of the children many parents abandoned their children into orphanages.

100,000 children in warehouses of cribs and children. The horror of these orphanages was that when groups would go into them there was complete silence. Underpaid and vastly overworked workers would change them, feed them, and then go to the next child. There was no time, and the numbers too many, to sit and hold each child, so the children would rock to self-sooth, and they were silent because they had learned that if they cried no one would come – so they stopped crying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEzTFmiCeks 2:53-3:09 (no sound)

(v. 6) “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” – Notice in the Romans passage (8:15) and here in Galatians 4:6 “Abba! Father!” have exclamation marks, it is a crying out, a yell. Because the Spirit of God confirms with our spirit, that we are children of God, we cry out Daddy! Father! Words used by a child who loves their dad, and they are crying out for a response. We move from hopeless silence, to crying out to the Father who loves us – because the Spirit speaks to our spirit that He loves us and we are His child.

The Christian prayer is a child talking to their loving Father.

(v. 7) “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” An heir is someone that inherits something. What is it that a person who is a believer in Jesus will inherit? Jesus as the Son of God will inherit the Father’s estate, and we are co-heirs, with Jesus.

In the ancient world as a means of survival the father would pass on to his son and inheritance (which would pass from one generation to the next). If you became an orphan, you have no inheritance, no means to survive, and most poor people became slaves just to be able to eat and have some kind of shelter. So the chances of the orphan becoming a slave were very high. The inheritance provided the means to be free from slavery. So, when we become a child of God, and an heir to His kingdom, we can be free from slavery because God has all we need. The fear of starvation, freezing in the rain, dying of thirst, or any other horror that may come because I don’t have what I need to survive is gone.

Salvation has two things happening; 1) our sin is transferred to Christ and is done away with and, 2) the Son’s rights and privileges are transferred to us. “Not only did Christ remove the curse we deserved (3:13; 4:5a), but He also gives us the blessing He deserved (3:14; 4:5b). God’s honor and reward are just as secure and guaranteed as our pardon.”[5]

Jesus has not just taken us out of prison and death row, but as we are leaving a medal of honor is hung around our necks and we are paraded through the streets as a hero. If we don’t remember this, we begin to think that my slate is clean and then when we sin, we feel guilt and shame – but we should also remember that on the clean slate was written Jesus’ righteousness. God loves you and sees you as He sees Jesus. Our inheritance is not a prize to be won. It is a gift from Christ.

When Jesus was praying on the night he was betrayed, He prayed specifically for those who would place their faith in Him, John 17:21, 23-24 “ . . . so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” The Father loves those that believe in Jesus (adopted children) just like He loves His own Son. Jesus prayed that we would know and understand how deep the Father’s love is for us.

What is better than the Father’s love for us?

 How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He would give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

“Though we are rich in the gospel, adopted children of God with complete and direct access to the Father, we can go back to relating to Him only through our record and moral merits.”[6] Paul warns that is we allow ourselves to go back to religious moralism we break a relationship that God gave His Son to establish.

Keep Moving Forward Because You Are Known By God (vv. 8-11)

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

“to be known by God,” – God is omnipotent – He knows everything. He knit you together in your mother’s womb, He knows the number of hairs upon your head. To be known by God is not your existence, it is about a relationship. David says is Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

There is an openness where your heart is open to the Lord, you have a relationship with Him, and You know Him and His ways, and He knows you and in spite of our wicked hearts; We desire for Him as our Father to lead us “in the way everlasting.” But we get to choose what that relationship looks like.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” When it’s all said and done, and we stand before God on judgement day, it won’t be about the things that we did, it ultimately come down to, “does God know you?”

Conclusion

Jesus told the parable of the unfaithful servants, and we are described as children of God, the principle is the same, Luke 12:48 “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” We are heirs of heaven, have been given “every spiritual blessing, (Eph. 1:3)” the Holy Spirit speaks directly to our spirit, and we are children of God (that counts as much), what will be required of us (if it is ultimately not about doing stuff?) You have been promised by God everything – what then as a child of God is required of you?

Emulate Jesus. Since God loves us as the Son, and has adopted us as a son, we should seek to be as much like Jesus as possible. We must consume God’s Word, and seek to be as much like Jesus as possible.

Seek God Constantly. God gave His Son so that we can have a close relationship with God; are we then seeking to have that relationship with our Father? Are we acting like a slave who is afraid of God, or are we acting like a child who is assured of our Father’s love? Cry out to your loving Father in Prayer. God wants a close relationship with you – reach out to Him.

Walk Being Led by the Spirit. God wants us to be free, led by His Spirit. We are free from the law to worship God, serve Him, live For Him, — are our daily lives led by the Spirit of God which is rooted in a relationship, or are we walking through life enslaved to rules and man-made traditions that are rooted in trying to please God apart from a relationship?

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[1] Colossians 2:8, 20

[2] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume III (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1967) 176.

[3] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago, Illinois; Moddy Publishing, 1987) 107.

[4] Russell Moore, Adopted for Life, The Priority of Adoption For Christian Families & Churches (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2009) 46.

[5] Timothy Keller, Galatians For You (United States; The Good Book Company, 2013) 98.

[6] Keller, 97.

“The Promise of God That Changes Everything” Galatians 3:15-29

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“The Promise of God That Changes Everything”

Galatians 3:15-29

Introduction

There is a pattern throughout history of how God brought redemption to pass. He has made multiple covenants with humanity. Adamic covenant, Noahic covenant, Davidic covenant, Mt. Saini covenant, etc. All these covenants are all pointing to the redemption of mankind. Then with Jesus, he announces a new covenant that is made in His blood for the remission of sins.

The covenant that was made with Adam was one of obedience, “If you follow God’s Word you will live eternally and have communion with God; if you break God’s law it means death and you are separated from God (they had to leave the garden).” The second Adam (Jesus)[1] also had to follow the same covenant, but instead of breaking God’s Word, He kept it perfectly. Last week we looked at how we are under a curse because we broke God’s law, and Jesus became the curse for us by taking the wrath of God upon him while on the cross. Paul continues his argument against human effort and how it does not establish or keep a relationship with God.

God’s Promises Are Eternal (vv. 15-18)

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Paul is arguing that a promise (a covenant) was made to Abraham and to his offspring. He is quoting Genesis 15:5-6 where God was talking about blessing Abraham, but Abraham was concerned that he would have no offspring to pass on the blessing of God to when he died, “And he (God) brought him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Paul gives an earthly example of people who have contracted, covenanted together – once all the terms are agreed upon, and the contract is signed (ratified), then you can’t change it. No one can back out or change what’s in the covenant – how much more when God gives a promise. He will always keep His end of the promise – it is within His character to do so.

Paul is saying that God’s promise to Abraham does not apply to all of humanity, instead it applies only to one person, that he says is Christ. Through Abraham to his offspring (Jesus) is promised by God to have countless children.[2] When a person places their faith in Christ they become a child of Abraham. Faith is the means to becoming a child of God[3], not following the law.

“By definition, an inheritance is not earned but simply received, and to work for that which is already guaranteed is foolish and unnecessary. Trying to earn the inheritance God promises through faith in His Son is much worse than foolish. To add works of the law to faith in God’s promise is to “nullify the grace of God” and to cause Christ to have “died needlessly” (2:21).”[4]

 So If salvation is by faith, why did God give us the law? (vv. 19-20)

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Transgressions

So if God made a promise to Abraham (salvation by faith) that is completed in Christ (faith in Christ as the means of salvation), then why have the law on the middle? Paul gives two reasons, 1) “because of transgressions,” – “the conscious disobeying of definite commandments.” “stepping over the boundary” The law produces transgressions by showing a person their total sinfulness, their inability to please God by his own works, and his need for mercy and grace.

Paul says something similar in Romans 4:15, “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. . . but where there is no law there is no transgression.”

The law shows man God’s standard, how their sin is an offense to God, and that they stand before God having sinned against their Creator – and that they will be held accountable to God for not keeping the standard. This is why the whole of the Bible is important for people today – Christianity is not about three steps to a better life, how to have a happy marriage, or six ways to move up the ladder at work. Mankind will never seek God’s grace and mercy if they are not made aware of how they have offended God. Why would they seek mercy, if they are not aware that they are sinners?

The purpose of the law was to drive men to despair.

 Intermediaries

And the law was given from a distance, 2) “it was put in place through angels by an intermediary,” – the law came to mankind by an intermediary, not by God directly. It is God’s word, and it originates from Him – but it was delivered by Moses and angels. “The promise of salvation by faith was so precious to the heart of God that He gave it to Abraham in person.”[5]

Today, God also comes directly to every person who will have His Son as Lord and Savior. There would come a day when God would speak directly to people, and not go through angels or prophets – but through His Spirit.

God Speaks Directly to Those Who Have Faith in Jesus.

God’s Promise of Salvation (vv. 21-22)

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Paul then asks, (v. 21) “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?” contrary means “against” or “opposed to,” Does the law work against, or is it opposed to the promise of salvation by faith? Paul says, “certainly not!” The law cannot give eternal life. If it were possible to have salvation multiple ways then it would make Jesus’ death unnecessary.

The law, “the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,” – It has locked up, secured on all sides, and gives no means of escape from sin. We have to have be pressed in from all sides, with no means of escaping the reality of our sin, and how we have offended God, with no means to make that right. We have been found guilty, imprisoned with no means of escape, sentenced to death, and driven to despair – and at that point we cry out for grace and mercy.

Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

“so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God promises that if a person places their trust in Jesus, that they will not perish because of their sin, their breaking God’s commands, but instead will be given eternal life, forgiveness of their sin.

Salvation is promised to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

 The Effects of the Law Upon A Person (vv. 23-24)

If you live under the law, or you are a follower of Jesus who is tempted to add works to what Jesus has already done on the cross, there are effects upon you (before and after conversion). Before salvation there is bondage that the relationship brings. Paul gives two figures to represent God’s law – the prison and a guardian.

 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

 The law is a prison (that you lock yourself inside)

 Until a person acknowledges his basic sinfulness and inability to perfectly fulfill the demands of God’s law, he will not repent or seek salvation, so “before faith came,” or now that we have it, we are imprisoned until, “faith would be revealed.” We are held captive either to our own ignorance and darkened hearts, or we are imprisoned, by the law itself which shows us our sinfulness.

The law was never intended to replace or be a barrier to faith – the OT Jews could be saved by faith, just as Abraham was. The spiritually minded Jewish person, who sought to love God, and serve Him would have been overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and inadequacy, He wanted to obey, yet knew he could not. Even under that way of living, he could cry out for mercy and have faith in God’s eventual promised Savior.

The problem was that many did not – instead they replaced the intention of the law with manmade traditions, and fooled themselves into thinking they were actually keeping the law. Jesus went after these manmade traditions and the religious leaders hated him for it.

Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The law is a guardian (that guides you to despair)

 When Paul mentions the law is like a guardian or a guide; it is a reference to a paidagogos. This was a slave employed by Greek or Roman families to supervise young boys for their parents. They taught them, disciplined them, but the role was never permanent. It was a great day for a young man to finally receive his freedom from his paidagogos. Their job was to take care of their charge until adulthood but then the relationship was changed. The sole purpose of the law was to guide people to Jesus.

“Before Christ came, the law of external ritual and ceremony, especially the sacrificial system, pictured the once-for-all, perfect, and effective sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. When the perfect Christ comes into the believer’s heart those imperfect pictures of him have no more purpose or significance.”[6]

 The Effects of Faith Upon A Person (vv. 25-26)

Faith Changes Our Relationship With God (v. 25)

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

After salvation the believer enjoys freedom that a relationship with Jesus brings. These false teachers, who insist that you must keep the law, plus following Jesus, remain under the guardian, the guide. But now that faith has come, our relationship with the law changes.

God’s moral standards don’t change, but now that the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, they are them empowered to be obedient to them.[7] The first thing God gives to every believer, when they become a believer in Jesus is Himself – the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because we are all sons of God, we can approach God, our Abba

Faith Changes Our Relationship With Other Believers (vv. 27-29)

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

The baptism here is not a water baptism by immersion, but is a picture of immersing yourself into the life of Christ. Like a garment, you wrap yourself, surround yourself with Christ. All believers, without exception, are one with Christ.

In the Roman tradition, “when a youth on attaining manhood, removed the crimson-bordered toga praetexta, the garment of childhood, and put on the toga virilis, the garment of manhood. At that time the young man would take his place among the family councils, taking on the responsibilities of maturity and enjoying the freedom that went with the position of adult sonship.”[8]

Jewish men would wake up every day and say a prayer, thanking God that they had not been born a Greek, nor a slave, nor a woman. Jewish men, according to their beliefs, had certain spiritual privileges/benefits that these three groups did not.[9]

“Paul describes Christ’s death as the means by which the Gentiles (churches in Galatia) received the blessings of Abraham, the promised Spirit was given, and the status of full sonship was procured (child of God). In other words, the time of Christ ushered in something new, which had been promised long ago.”[10] He is not discussing gender roles or a change of how God has ordained the home and church.

Paul has laid out an argument that salvation is by faith alone, and that is true for everyone (Jews, Greeks, slaves, free people, males, and females) Everyone comes to God the same way – salvation is by faith, not following the law. And the benefits are equally the same before God (the presence of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sin, having put on Christ, etc.)

Conclusion

John Bunyan in his book Pilgrim’s Progress, writes:

“As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with lamentable cry, saying “What shall I do?”

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[1] 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Romans 5:12-21

[2] See also Genesis 17:16 Abraham is not promised may children but one ‘a child.’

[3] In this ancient culture the rights to adopted children were even more secure, “This irrevocable character attached to a will especially where the inheritance of sons was concerned – above all where the inheritance of adopted sons were concerned. . . shows how in the Greek world the rights of an adopted son were even more secure than those of a son by birth.” F. F. Bruce, New International Greek Testament Commentary, Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982) 171.

[4] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Press, 1987) 86.

[5] MacArthur, 87.

[6] MacArthur, 96.

[7] Ephesians 2:10

[8] John Piper & Wayne Grudem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 1991) 158.

[9] Piper & Grudem, 158.

[10] Richard Hove, Equality In Christ, Galatians 3:28 and the Gender Dispute (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 1999) 38.

“Who Do You Say I Am” Mark 8:27-9:1

Christ’s Power Over Every Need

The Gospel of Mark Sermon Series

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Mark 8:27-9:1

Introduction

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.”

Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am the captain!”

Soon another message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am seaman third class Jones.”

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am a battleship.”

Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am a lighthouse.”

In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest- -something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our own peril.[1]

God Is Patient With Us As We Take Steps of Faith (vv. 27-30)

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

It is in this isolated area, as they are in between crowds, Jesus takes this opportunity to begin teaching the disciples about his journey to the cross, which is about six months away. “It was time that the disciples reveal how much they had been influenced by their environment as well as the direct instruction of Jesus.”[2]

(v. 1) “he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” – and in their response we see a similar list in Mark 6:14-15 “King Herod heard of it, [Jesus going from village to village teaching and healing] for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” The world had their own definition of who Jesus was – today the world defines Jesus as they want Him to be (good man, good teacher).

(v. 29) “But who do you say that I am?” – After all the healings, storms on the sea, casting out demons, feeding of thousands, months and months of hearing Him preach . . . Who is Jesus? Jesus had used the phrases, “he who has an ear let him hear,” and “He who has eyes to see, let him see” . . . They have been with Jesus all this time – Has Jesus been successful in showing them who He is?

It is as though the disciples in that back country are standing at a crossroad. To go down one road leads to a further understanding of God, Jesus, and spiritual growth, but everyone seems to be against them, and there is the pain of bearing a cross.

As they look down the second path the world in support of them, there is applause, there are no problems, no suffering, but Jesus is not there. They have to choose between the world and Jesus – you can’t take both roads at the same time. Jesus patiently waits for the answer.

Peter responds, (v. 29) “You are the Christ”— Jesus does not use the word Messiah “to avoid political complications and a revolutionary movement (see Mark 6:45).”[3] But here, he accepts the title Messiah, and “Peter’s confession revealed real insight into the nature of Christ’s person and mission, but this concept of Jesus’ messiahship was far from being perfect. Peter still had much to learn of Messiah’s suffering, rejection, and death, as the immediately incident reveals.”[4]

(v. 30) “And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.” Jesus does not want them to give a view of Him as the Messiah, because they did not understand and needed further instruction. When they were sent out two-by-two (Mark 6:7-13) they cast out demons, healed the sick and “proclaimed that people should repent.”[5]

Here, they understand that He is the Messiah, as predicted by the Old Testament, but they did not really know what that meant or entailed. Jesus “had not come to establish a political kingdom. His victory would be that of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.”[6]

Mark shows us in this chapter that everything is a process. Salvation, healing (Mark 8:22-26; the man’s healing took two steps), the growth of the kingdom often takes place in stages.

Following God’s Will Is Not Without Pain (vv. 31-33)

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.[7] 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus again refers to himself as “the Son of Man,” (and in the gospel over 81 times). Son of Man was the preferred title by Jesus because it, unlike the term Messiah, was not full of assumed meanings and would not distract from His God-appointed mission.[8]

But there is an OT background in the person who would come as the Son of Man. Daniel 7:3-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus here makes three predictions, 1. That he must suffer many things, included in that suffering is being rejected by the elders and chief priests, 2. Be killed, 3. After three days be raised from the dead. This secret is now being revealed to the disciples, “And he said this plainly.”

Jesus tells his disciples plainly that to follow Him will be a path of pain and suffering. Jesus has shown himself to be the promised Messiah, and now He is beginning to show them that the Savior must suffer to the point of death – A suffering servant.

For Peter, the Messiah was a symbol of strength, not weakness. In Peter’s mind Jesus represented God, and God could not fail, Jesus would be successful, not lose to the religious leaders. Since Jesus is the Christ, God is with Him! Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes him – the same word for silencing a demon earlier.[9]

“Peter’s attempt to dissuade him from going to the cross is the same temptation he had experienced from Satan at the outset of his ministry. Satan offered him the option of using the world’s means of accomplishing his mission. Peter was opposing the divine will.”[10] What Peter doesn’t understand is that if Jesus is to be Christ, then He must endure the cross. That has been the plan from the beginning. Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

“Peter’s suggestion represented a very real temptation for Jesus – one that must be rejected forcefully. Jesus is demanding that they accept his mission and his demands for discipleship. Even though Peter had Jesus’ best interest at heart, he was being used as an instrument of Satan (not possession).”[11] God’s Word does not change, we must align our thoughts, wishes, feelings, desires to it – not try to move it to our will.

Jesus’ family came earlier to collect Him because they were concerned for him, Mark 3:20-21 “Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” We must be careful, that like Peter and Jesus’ family, we do not let our personal desires for others to cloud the plan that God has for them. We don’t want those we love to suffer or endure heartache, but it may just be the plan God uses to redeem many.

When Peter hears Jesus saying these words, he is horrified, and he allows his own wishes to cloud the truth of Jesus’ words, so Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan!” – the world does not give the answer to the one big problem we encounter each and every day of our lives – our brokenness because of our sin, and separation from our Creator.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Also, while Jesus explains that the Savior must suffer, but (v. 31) “and after three days rise again,” Jesus is showing the disciples that he knows that there is pain and suffering coming in the days ahead, but also there is life as well.

What Does Jesus’ Suffering Mean For His Followers? (vv. 34-9:1)

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Many would rather take the cross out of the picture, remove it from the church steeple. Get rid of the blood and gore, the scourging, spitting, mocking, and clean Jesus up. Make Him safe, just focus on the “love your neighbor,” and “turn the other cheek.” But Jesus says, (v. 34) “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Suffering is not only the destiny of Jesus, but everyone who would be a follower of Christ. Jesus gives two requirements of disciples, (1) denial of self, (2) taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. 1) denying self – “It is the same word used of Peter’s denial of Jesus, and means “let him make himself a stranger” to himself.”[12]

2) “take up his cross” – “When criminals carried their crosses, it showed those who were watching the identity of the one who had authority over the criminal.”[13] By denying oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Jesus, a disciple acknowledges that he is submitting to Jesus’ authority.

In Luke 23:26 Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross on the Via Dolorosa “And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.”

Our choice, is often like Peter’s; we choose our own self-interest – what works best for me, what I believe to be most beneficial for me. When you become a follower of Jesus you lay that self down and crucify it. You then take up Christ’s will for your life.

You have to lose and deny yourself, “For whoever would save his life will lose it,” and it is in this process of giving your life to Christ, and then having faith in His plan for your life, and seeking to follow His will, that true living is gained.

There is nothing more important than this (daily) decision of being safe and saving yourself from pain, suffering, loss, etc. and the loss of the life that God intends for you to have, “36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” –

Jesus wants everyone to fully understand the cost of being a Christ follower. Luke 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” There is pain for the sake of others, we lay our lives down so that others may know who Christ is, and the exchange is our souls, we gain a life of purpose and fulfillment. There is death and sacrifice, but there is also resurrection and eternal life.

Jesus rebukes Peter because there is the temptation to not follow God’s plan. We face the same temptation, and the harder and painful the task, the more we are tempted to avoid it. But to be a follower of Christ, is willingly to face those things head because it is the will of God.

A couple of years ago, it was becoming clear to me that God was calling us from where we were to somewhere else – So we had a family meeting and I began to share this with the family. Their reaction was, “Dad, can’t you just work here, get a job here,” and my response is that “we have to go where God tells us to go.” So, my soon to be senior and incoming freshman high school student, would be moving to a potential new school, my wife would leave a job she loved, and we would go to a church where I would serve as pastor. It would have caused less pain for my family to stay – and I could have got a job in the community – but it would be at the expense of waking away from a calling.

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[1] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/l/lorship_of_christ.htm

[2] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume 1 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1932) 334.

[3] Robertson, 334.

[4] Frank E. Gaebelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1984) 694.

[5] Mark 6:12

[6] Max Anders, Holman New Testament Commentary, Mark (Nashville, Tennessee; Holman Reference, 2000) 135.

[7] Three passion announcements in Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34.

[8] Gaebelein, 695.

[9] Larry W. Hurtado, New Testament Biblical Commentary, Mark (Peabody Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 1989) 137.

[10] Gaebelein, 696.

[11] Anders, 136.

[12] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 7 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1953) 770.

[13] Anders, 136.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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