Mark 8:34-35
by Mary Streufert
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Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them,
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their
life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and
for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”
Jesus’ followers are known for their density in the Gospel of Mark,
seemingly causing Jesus endless headaches over their inability to fathom
what Jesus is telling them. Three times Jesus tries to teach the
disciples what true discipleship is. The first time (see Mark
8:34-35),
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In addition to questions found in this
study, here are some general questions that can
be used:
1. What is God saying to us through this
passage?
2. What does this passage tell us about
God?
3. How does this passage speak to us as a
community?
4. What does this passage teach us about
our neighbors and our world? |
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, Jesus called “the crowd” along with his inner circle. The crowd also
needed to hear what true discipleship is.
Why is it significant that “the crowd” needed to learn what true
discipleship is? Are you part of “the crowd”?
What Jesus said about true discipleship is like a three-point plan on
transforming power. First, Jesus declares that to follow him, people
must “deny themselves.” This does not mean that you should deny your
bodily needs, your emotions, or your minds. Rather, it means that
followers — even those in the big crowd — must disown themselves. To
disown one’s self means to deny the ego as the locus of power in your
life. You are not the center of the universe. Rather, God should be the
center of your universe.
Why would you disown yourself? How do you disown yourself? Something
must have been a problem that prevented Jesus’ listeners from being true
disciples. If disowning yourself is the answer to this problem, what
might the problem be? How is the problem that prevented Jesus’ followers
from being true disciples present in you? In your community?
How can you as an ordinary Christian be a true disciple to Jesus? What
stands in your way? How does the message to disown yourself help to
solve the crisis?
Second, Jesus tells his listeners that they must “take up their
cross.” This does not mean that to follow Jesus means suffering without
protest when you are harmed. Nor does it mean silently bearing abuse or
physical pain. Because the cross in ancient Palestine was the instrument
of Roman execution for violent criminals, slaves, and rebels of the
state, “taking up their cross” meant taking up the consequences of
following Jesus Christ. Following Jesus meant living in ways that
opposed Roman colonial imperial power and elite religious collusion w
ith
that imperial power. Taking up one’s cross meant that someone confronted
the worldly power that opposed God’s presence on earth. Often the result
was earthly suffering.
If the cross was an instrument of Roman imperial execution for those
who were openly adverse to its power, how could we interpret what this
cross is in our present context? In other words, what are the threats to
you and your community when you live God’s love on earth?
Third, Jesus tells the crowd that they must follow him. Following
Jesus also meant that for the sake of the gospel — the good news of
God’s love through Jesus Christ — you were willing to die.
Do you want to lose your life for the sake of the gospel?
Following Jesus was counter-cultural. Jesus’ means of ministry were
on the margins and often with the marginal. Jesus’ way of p
olitical
protest was out-of-the-ordinary: he was not the warrior messiah who was
expected. Instead, we see that God’s love in Jesus meant that true
disciples broke religious barriers between people; healed those who
needed healing; and subverted colonial power in order to empower the
oppressed. Following Jesus as a true disciple meant that your power
would not come from your ego but would come from being grounded in God’s
power — God’s power in the world, incarnate in Jesus Christ.
Mary Streufert is Director for Justice for
Women, Church in Society Unit, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Questions on Mark 8:34-35
- Why is it significant that “the crowd” needed to learn what true
discipleship is? Are you part of “the crowd”?
- Why would you disown yourself? How do you disown yourself?
Something must have been a problem that prevented Jesus’ listeners
from being true disciples. If disowning yourself is the answer to
this problem, what might the problem be? How is the problem that
prevented Jesus’ followers from being true disciples present in you?
In your community?
- How can you as an ordinary Christian be a true disciple to
Jesus? What stands in your way? How does the message to disown
yourself help to solve the crisis?
- If the cross was an instrument of Roman imperial execution for
those who were openly adverse to its power, how could we interpret
what this cross is in our present context? In other words, what are
the threats to you and your community when you live God’s love on
earth?
- Do you want to lose your life for the sake of the gospel?