Mark 8:31-38: The secret recipe for abundant life

In the 2020 documentary “The Weight of Gold,” Michael Phelps (the most decorated Olympian of all time) and others take a look at their lives after they had won so much and the ensuing depression after their careers were over.

Phelps says,

“We’re just so lost. A good 80 percent, maybe more, develop a post-Olympic depression. I thought of myself as just a swimmer and not a human being, and that’s where l thought, why don’t I just end it all?”

Phelps is just one subject of the film that also includes interviews with many Olympians, including Steve Holcomb (who died from a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills in 2017) and Jeret Peterson (who died by suicide in 2011). Brian Welk, “Michael Phelps Examines ‘Post-Olympic Depression’ in HBO’s The Weight of Gold,'” The Wrap (7-20-20)

It is life’s conundrum – what is the good life? The abundant life? The life worth having?

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I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries, I am beholden to Jesus.

-Malcolm Muggeridge, British journalist, writer, and Christian apologist (2903-1990)

Rebuking God

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and, after three days, rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

The nature of Peter’s rebuke – the mistaken encourager. Marshall Daigre – I see a Southern redneck telling Jesus – this suffering, rejected, dying thing – ain’t gonna happen as long as I’m here. See here – I conceal carry!

I think this is probably pretty close to reality. Remember, it was the “concealed carry” Peter who whipped out his concealed sword and cut off a guy’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Maybe not so far-fetched!

The adversarial position

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said.

“Satan” (the word) might be a name, or…it meant “adversarial.” We each have to ask – what is there in my life that might be…could be…adversarial (against) the cause of Jesus? Here, Peter is probably trying to be encouraging to Jesus, actually tempting Jesus to go the easy way instead of the Father’s way. ILLUS. Episode with Hal Perkins. Everyone else was trying to comfort. Jesus said, “Talk to Jesus about it…right here…right now…out loud.” It worked.

How are you…thinking?

“You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Mind = phroneo (pre-occupying perspective, backdrop, the operating system of a computer,

worldview) Martin Luther – three conversions necessary – the heart, the mind, the purse.

Interesting…your MIND needs to be converted from first to last.

The abundant life

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

The keys to abundant (not easy, but abundant) life.

Whoever wants – a grace gift of God

Self-denial – the only option to the holy and happy life. Paul – I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live; Christ lives in me.” Absolute no for a far, far higher YES.

Take up the cross – God’s tailor-made burden for your life

Follow me – Jesus did this with the Father; he commends the approach to us.

Losing life one quarter at a time

  1.   For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
  2.   What good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Fred Craddock – we imagine going out with one flash of enormous glory…truth is, losing your life is usually a lot more like a roll of quarters spent one quarter at a time.

A Man for All Seasons: The scenario: More refuses to take King Henry the VIII’s oath of supremacy as his very life is on the line. At More’s trial, Rich lies about More’s treason resulting in More’s martyrdom. On his way out of the courtroom, More asks to see the medallion around Rich’s neck, signifying his new job as Solicitor General to Wales. To which More says: “For Wales? Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world…but for Wales!”

The adulterous

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Adulterous is a thought along the nuptial metaphor – we go off and follow other Gods (and…in light of THIS passage, these “gods” might include…

  • the god of never suffering,
  • the god of never being rejected,
  • the god of at-all-costs never being killed,
  • the god of boldly rebuking God,
  • the god of a worldly worldview,
  • the god of ubi est mea,
  • the god of comfort,
  • the god of following our own dreams,
  • the god of gaining part of or possibly the whole world,
  • the god of sexual or mental or spiritual adultery.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

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. 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.”

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[a] 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.” Mark 8:31-38