Christ’s Discipleship Manifesto

What does it mean to follow Jesus? In answer to that question, Jesus provides a simple yet sobering answer (in Mark 8:34-38). Every would-be disciple needs to address the following points that Jesus makes in his discipleship manifesto:

Answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”

That’s what Jesus asked the disciples a few verses earlier. The way you answer this question will profoundly shape your life. When Peter exclaims that Jesus is the Christ he is making a huge statement. He is saying that Jesus is the anointed one who fulfills the three Old Testament offices of prophet, priest and king.

Is this who Jesus is to you? Is he your prophet? Do you hang on his every word? Do you look to him for wisdom? Is he your priest? Are you trusting in his blood alone for your salvation? Is he your king? Do you joyfully submit to his loving rule in every area of your life?

Your answer is eternally significant but will not change the fact that he is Christ.

Place a value on your soul

Jesus asks, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (v. 37). Is your soul worth risking? What will you give in exchange for your soul? A life of pleasure? A life of self-seeking? A life of orderliness and predictability? As you place an eternal value on your own soul, everything else will pale in comparison.

Desire to come after Christ (v. 34)

When Jesus talks about the man that desires to come after him he is raising the question: Is Christ worth following? Is such a desire to follow him warranted? Considering who he is, yes! This also raises the question of whether or not where he’s going is worth going. Is it? Is heaven a worthwhile pursuit? Considering what the Bible says about it, yes!

Deny yourself

Unless you deny yourself you cannot follow Jesus. We are naturally glory-seekers. The basic principal in natural man is a drive for self-glorification. The gospel turns that drive on its head. When God changes our hearts we are no longer driven to please ourselves. But we still war against the flesh. Therefore we must deny ourselves. Calvin said, “We are God’s own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed toward him as our only legitimate goal.” (The Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952, p. 26). When this happens there is no place for seeking self glory.

Take up your cross

Dietrich Bonheoffer has famously said, “Christ bids us to come and die.” The cross represents the sufferings of Christ that we experience. To take up one’s cross is to embrace Christian suffering as part of God’s plan for our lives. How can cross bearing possibly be part of God’s plan for our lives? First, it is God’s plan for us to learn obedience through cross-bearing (Heb. 5:8). Second, cross-bearing directs us to the perfect justice of God (Gen. 18:25) which finds ultimate meaning in the cross of Christ.

Follow Christ

Follow him in the way he lived. More importantly, follow him to the cross. Lay down your life. Become crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20). The call of discipleship is radical!

Christ essentially says two things in the latter part of Mark 8: “I’m going to suffer and then be exalted. Christians will suffer and then be exalted. So what’s the connection between the two? Does Christ suffer and die as an example of how we should suffer and die as well? To a very small extent this is true.

But the greater reality is that he suffered and died as the ultimate self-denier for those who cannot go that far. He took up his cross for those who too often sneak away from their crosses. He lost his life so that those who can’t quite do the same can have eternal life.

And that’s good news for would-be disciples.