Unit 5 - Demand & Freedom
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HaleiousUnit 5 - Demand & Freedom
Uploaded by
HaleiousUnit 5
the GREATEST
the GREATEST
DEMANDS,
DEMANDS,
the GREATEST
the GREATEST
FREEDOM
FREEDOM
INTRODUCTION
MARK 8:27-10:52 is
the framework of
Mark’s discipleship
discourse.
There are 2 discourses found in
this chapters
MARK 8:34-9:1 (NIV)
34
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples
and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever
wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a
man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what
can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is
ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he
comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are
MK 9:1
standing here will not taste death before they see the
kingdom of God come with power."
THE FIRST DISCOURSE
2 requirements Then he called
for following the crowd to
JESUS: him along with
his disciples and said:
"If anyone would come after
me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow
me. MARK 8:34
1. Self Denial
What it does not mean?
- it does not
mean to deny
oneself of
something
(e.g. car,
house,etc.)
What it does mean -
– renounce self,
i.e. to stop
making self the
object or center
of one’s life and
action.
LEARNING TASK
Give
specific
examples of
excessive
concerns
for self
LEARNING TASK
• Bible discovery of
“other centered” life
References on Paul’s use of “for
your sake”
Rom 12:1 Rom 13:8 Rom 14:1 Rom 15:7 1 Cor 1:10
2 Cor 2:10 Eph 4:2, 8 Eph 4:28 Eph 4:32 Eph 5:21
Col 3:13 Col 3:16 1 Thes 5:11 Heb 3:13 Heb 10:24-25
1 Pet 3:8-9 1 Pet 5:5
2. Taking up one’s cross
and following JESUS.
Cross does not mean
some irritation in life.
Cross bearing is not
cross wearing.
Taking up one’s cross
and following Jesus
is an active
submission
to the
authority of
the King.
S To deny oneself is to
U stop rebelling
against the authority
M (or rule) of the King
M
A To take up His cross is
R to submit to His rule
Y
INSIGHTS
FOR LIFE
These two requirements
when wholeheartedly
understood and accepted will
release us to follow JESUS
unconditionally.
Spiritual growth and journey begins here.
These commitments create a movement.
Otherwise we only have a religion.
Further • When the two requirements are
Insight accepted in following Jesus,
decisions in this life becomes a
vs. 35-38 settled issue.
35 For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it,
• If confronted with choices in this life,
but whoever loses his life the one who heartedly embraced the
for me and for the gospel requirements will choose for Jesus;
will save it. 36 What good
is it for a man to gain the
will not deny Jesus, will not be
whole world, yet forfeit ashamed of Jesus.
his soul? 37 Or what can • Such decision may involve
a man give in exchange
for his soul? 38 If anyone
discomforts, may feel disadvantaged
is ashamed of me and my and experience inconvenience. But
words in this adulterous that is the only way to grow deeper,
and sinful generation, the thereby, releasing an abundant life.
Son of Man will be
ashamed of him when he
comes in his Father's
glory with the holy
An abundant and a satisfying life never
angels." happen apart from suffering
The Great Warning
Gain the world or forfeit your soul in
the life after.
Be ashamed of Him in this world and
He’ll be ashamed of you before His
Father in the life after.
(vs. 36-38)
S Discipleship is for anyone
U “If anyone…..”
M
M
A
R
Discipleship is not for certain
Y people of a high spiritual level.
S Discipleship is a “If an yo ne
U grateful decision… not wishes….”
coercion.
M
M
The decision is
A based on previous
R action – Jesus’
obedience to the will
Y of the Father.
S Anyone can be
a follower, but
U
no one finds it
M easy.
M For it seems to me that God has put
us apostles on display at the end of
A Disciples must be
the procession, like men
condemned to die in the arena. We
willing to be fools have been made a spectacle to the
R for Christ’s sake. whole universe, to angels as well as
to men. We are fools for Christ, but
you are so wise in Christ! We are
Y weak, but you are strong! You are
honored, we are dishonored!
1 Corinthians 4:9-10 (NIV)
S Example of Daniel, Daniel 3:14 ff
U • The great choices and the great
consequences vs.35-9:1
M • “For me” and “for the gospel” stress the
M absoluteness of Jesus’ claim.
A Decision This present life Life to come
R Deny Jesus “save” Lose
Y Confess Jesus Lose Save
THE SECOND DISCOURSE
The authentic service:
Mark 9:33-50
Immediate context- Mark 9:30-32
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want
anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his
disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed
into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will
rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to
ask him about it. (NIV)
The disciples still did not
understand and did not dare
ask for fear of being rebuked.
They chose to occupy
themselves with arguing
about who was the greatest
among them.
Explanation of the discourse
vs.33-37
• v.35 underscores
that in the Kingdom
of God, true
greatness comes
through service of
others.
INSIGHTS
FOR LIFE
“The spirit of service is the passport to
greatness in the Kingdom of God, for it is in the
Spirit of the Master who Himself became
“Diakonos panton”.(Swede, p.205)
This is a complete
reversal of worldly
values or ethics.
Service which does not
involve sacrifice is no
service at all in the
Kingdom of God.
Illustration of the
principles, vs.36-37
S
U The
symbolism
M of the child
M is used by
Jesus to
A show to His
R disciples:
Y
S the object of Christian
U service is directed to
insignificant people
M
M
the being or
A attitude of the
R disciples is that of
a lowly person.
Y
CONCLUSION
In the first discipleship
discourses, cf.8:31-33,
it shows that the way of
the cross or the way of
the Son of Man is the
way of the community.
Cf.8:34
CONCLUSION
In the second
discipleship
discourses, cf.9:33-50,
it shows that the way
of the community
involves service to the
insignificant people in
the community.
CONCLUSION
Instead of division
caused by seeking to be
the greatest, there
should be service,
acceptance and
receiving of one another.
CONCLUSION
In the Kingdom of
God, humble
service is the rule!
And even the Son
of Man is not
exempt from it,
Mark 10:45
Greatness is not
achieved by asserting
rank but by humble
service, v.44
END OF
SESSION
