January 26: Mark 8

Mark 8 is an extremely pivotal moment in the book.

The book's introduction is important to remember. It is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1:1), and Jesus summarizes his gospel message in that first chapter by saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). This Kingdom is present on earth in Christ himself and his gospel. And the meaning of the Kingdom is coming into sharper focus in Mark 8.

First, Jesus needs to help his own disciples see who he is, which, so far, they have been slow to get. He feeds another 4,000 people (8:1-10), and then, after a brief encounter with the Pharisees (8:11-13), warns his disciples against them (8:15). But the disciples are thick; they can't get their minds off their stomachs (8:16). You can almost hear frustration in Jesus's voice in his response to their block-headedness (8:17-21). "Do you not yet understand?" he asks them. "How could I miraculously feed so many thousands if I were a mere man? Don't you get it? Don't you remember my baptism (1:11)? I'm the SON OF GOD!!!"

Jesus's healing of the blind man at Bethsaida illutrates the disciples' gradual understanding of who Christ is. He begins to heal the man's sight, then Jesus finishes the job and the man can see clearly. And it seems as though this physical illustration of his disciples' slowly receiving spiritual sight clicks a light bulb on above Peter's head. Who does Peter say Jesus is? "You are the Christ" (8:29). Now he can finally see clearly. Till now, seeing Jesus has been like seeing walking trees rather than people. Now, Jesus's Messiah-ship comes into plain view for them. He is the Christ!

And now that they get it, Jesus breaks the bad news of the coming days to them: "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" (8:31). Peter's having none of it. No Jesus, you're the Christ, I said. You get on a white horse, ride into Jerusalem, slay God's enemies, and establish the throne of David once and for all. But the Lord doesn't mince words; that right there is devil talk (8:33).

Now comes the difficult unveiling of the application of his gospel message: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it" (8:34-35). Lose your life to save it. Give up on your self-aggrandizing dreams; give up your self-worth and self-saving schemes. The rest of this book of the Bible is the fulfillment of Jesus's words here. To bring the kingdom to fruition, to bring the good news of God's redemption to all people, he will have to be led like a lamb to the slaughter.

Follow me, Jesus says. Follow me down death row. Follow me in self-denial, humiliation and service. Follow me to the cross.