Jesus above politics & comfort

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. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 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."  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.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  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."

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." - Mark 8:31‭-‬9:1 ESV

Rev. Ryan Egli

Jesus predicts death & resurrection

Jesus prophesies about suffering and dying. This would've been a very odd way to speak about being the Messiah. This breaks with all the current views of the time about the Messiah and how he would bring salvation. Jesus saw the rejection of religious leaders as necessary. But it is not just to condemn them. He calls for forgiveness and we even see loving confrontation of the religious leaders.

Jesus rebukes Peter

After this prophesy, Peter takes Jesus aside and rejects what Jesus said. We don't know what Peter said exactly but we do know that Jesus responds with one of the strongest rebukes we ever read. Jesus confronts and firmly rejects what Peter says. Peter represented the mainstream Jewish expectations for the coming Messiah. They were expecting a triumphant Savior. Peter and the other disciples were looking for their own power and prestige. They were not looking for the kingdom that Jesus was bringing.

Jesus challenges his followers

Jesus demands it all. Total allegiance to the point of death. Jesus was telling his followers to expect a painful death. As Christians in the states, we want Christian lite, or the trappings of the Christian life. We don't want discomfort, inconvenience... Jesus would likely rebuke us as well. Following Jesus is a call to suffering and for us in the west, many of us may worship the idol of comfort. The earliest Christians would go on to be persecuted and even killed. 

Application

Jesus wasn't about playing political games. Jesus calls for our ultimate allegiance. Does the gospel take precedence over any political party or platform? We need to pick up our cross and follow Him.