I'm Following Jesus – Page 1288 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Chapters: Mark 9
Message: Who Is The Greatest?

Hello My Friend,

There are some people so arrogant that they believe that everybody loves them, swoons over them, and everything will be handed to them because they are such outstanding citizens. Those very people will tell you that you do not need Jesus to save you, and in fact, call themselves Christians. This is why Jesus said many will not taste death until they see Him, [Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.]

There will be many standing before Jesus with the assumption that their “good works” saved them only to discover that He alone was their only way. Of all the disciples that walked with Jesus, not all of them had the same faith in Him. And Jesus knew exactly which ones would go on to be great witnesses for Him after He went back home. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to witness an amazing event.

[Mark 9:4-10 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.]

[questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.] Jesus brought them there for a reason, to show them that they too would receive a glorified body at the resurrection. Moses and Isaiah were both great men of God, but they were just like the rest of us, they died physically too by faith in believing that God was sending a Saviour, they will also be glorified in the resurrection. None of this would even be possible if it were not for Jesus being crucified. This is why they were forbidden to speak about the transfiguration until after His resurrection. All who believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour will receive glorified bodies upon their own resurrection when He returns, [I Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.]

Let me tell you, our faith is not always strong, and the devil watches for that, but remember, Jesus is more powerful than the devil, and can break through any chain he holds us down with. We learn of this when a desperate father pleas with Jesus to heal his son who was actually possessed by the devil.

[Mark 9:19-25,28-29 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.]

[How long is it ago since this came unto him?] Do you think that Jesus did not already know the answer to this question? Of course, He did. God knows everything about us, and sees everything too. Jesus upbraids them for their unbelief, He basically tells them that His patience and longsuffering would not always continue, and that in a short time, He would be gone, and will no longer receive the mercies there have been given unless they believe in Him alone. There is nothing that we go through that God does not know about, He even allows the devil to afflict us, but there is one thing that the devil cannot do is touch a soul that belongs to Christ, [John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.]

For the saved, born again Christian, our works will account for nothing because the righteousness Jesus is looking for is our faith in Him, yet we are careful to maintain them as to honor Him. Jesus proves this as He catches the disciples arguing among themselves who would be recognized as the greatest among them.

[Mark 9:33-37 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.]

[who should be the greatest.] First of all, do you think Jesus did not know what they were arguing about? Jesus knows everything, and He will flat out ask you what you were thinking so that you can be truthful to yourself. Second, if we think what we do is better than someone else, then we can expect Jesus to call us out because no one is better than another for we are all saved by grace alone. And third, we are not to compare ourselves with others, rather live our lives as God as being accepted of God. Since we have received Christ as our Saviour and are already made righteous though our faith in Him alone, we will not be judged for our sin before Christ, but He will judge unrepentant well before we see Him face to face.

[Titus 3:5-8 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank Your for the amazing transformation You have made in me as I walk with You. I know that You are always with me, and I know that I fail You more times than I can count, but Your mercies endure, and Your grace abounds so much that You continue to work in me daily. Lord, I want to live as a reflection of You, I want to hear everything You are saying to me and do everything You have called me to do. Watch over me, guide me, and keep Your truths in me. Help me to learn and grow in Your Word daily so that the world can see You through me. Open my heart to be receptive to You and only You, clear my mind of every doubt and fear and fill it with joy and peace only revealed as I take You wherever I go, Lord. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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