Mark 8:31-38 The Expectations of Christ and the Cost of Following Him

The Expectations of Christ and the Cost of Following Him

Mark 8:31–38

Introduction

Commercials, movie previews, and radio ads all set expectations for consumers. A company’s success depends on whether their product lives up to the claims they make. If the product fails to deliver, people feel misled.

Similarly, when Jesus arrived, many people had expectations about who He was and what He would do. The Jewish people believed the Christ (Messiah) would come as a conquering king to establish an earthly kingdom, bringing peace and prosperity. However, Jesus had a different mission—one that included suffering, rejection, and death. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, struggled with this truth. His misunderstanding serves as a warning: Our beliefs about Jesus must align with Scripture. A partial or incorrect view of Christ can lead us away from His true purpose.

Jesus Explains His Mission (Mark 8:31–32a)

After Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Christ, Jesus immediately explained what that meant. He did not come to overthrow the Romans or bring immediate earthly peace. Instead, He would:

  • Suffer—Jesus endured both physical and emotional agony, mocked and beaten by Roman soldiers before His crucifixion (Matthew 27:27–31).
  • Be rejected—The Jewish leaders, including the elders, chief priests, and scribes, rejected Jesus, calling for His death (John 19:12–16).
  • Be killed—Jesus was crucified, fulfilling God’s plan for salvation (John 19:28–30).
  • Rise again—Three days after His death, Jesus conquered the grave (John 20:11–18).

Jesus made these statements plainly, leaving no room for misunderstanding. Yet, His words did not match the expectations of His followers.

Peter Rebukes Jesus, and Jesus Rebukes Peter (Mark 8:32b–33)

Peter could not accept that the Messiah would suffer and die. He pulled Jesus aside and rebuked Him, as if correcting a mistake. But Peter’s rebuke revealed that he was thinking from a human perspective, not God’s. He wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom immediately. Jesus responded sharply:

“Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Mark 8:33)

Jesus was not calling Peter “Satan” in a literal sense, but rather addressing the influence behind his words. Peter, though well-meaning, was speaking in opposition to God’s plan—just as Satan had tried to tempt Jesus away from His mission (Matthew 4:8–10).

Peter’s passionate objection reveals something deeper: it is possible to believe in Jesus and still be completely wrong about what that belief entails. He wanted glory without the cross, victory without sacrifice, a kingdom without suffering. This was due to his limited understanding of what the Messiah came to do. Peter, like many others, expected the restoration of Israel to be a national, political event. But the kingdom Jesus was establishing wasn’t about one earthly nation—it was about redeeming all of God’s people, for all time. What Peter failed to grasp was that death secures the kingdom. Only through the suffering and sacrifice of the Son would God bring lasting peace, justice, and righteousness (Isaiah 53).

Jesus exposed the heart of the issue: “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Like many of us, Peter wanted a Jesus who fit his expectations, who would make life easier and solve problems quickly. But that is not the Jesus of Scripture.

The Cost of Following Jesus (Mark 8:34–37)

Jesus then turned to the crowd and gave a hard truth: Anyone who wanted to follow Him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This was shocking because crucifixion was the most brutal form of Roman execution. To “take up your cross” meant embracing suffering and total submission to God’s will. It was a known death sentence, often used publicly by Rome to intimidate and display their dominance.

But what is on the other side of the death we are called to? Ironically enough—life. Freedom from the passions of our flesh that return us to sin. Freedom from the bondage of needing the world’s approval. A treasure that doesn’t fade and doesn’t cost us our dignity to obtain. True justice that feeds our souls with righteousness instead of leaving us starving and desperate.

Jesus explained the paradox of the Christian life:

  • Whoever seeks to save their life will lose it—If we live for comfort, success, or our own desires, we will ultimately lose everything.
  • Whoever loses their life for Jesus’ sake will save it—If we surrender our lives to Christ, we gain eternal life.

Jesus asked two piercing questions:

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
“What can a man give in return for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37)

No earthly treasure can compare to the value of one’s soul. Wealth, power, and success mean nothing if a person dies apart from Christ.

The Consequence of Rejecting Christ (Mark 8:38)

Jesus ended with a warning: Those who are ashamed of Him now will face His rejection when He returns in glory. This points to His second coming, when He will judge the world (Matthew 24:29–31).

Some people reject Jesus out of fear—fear of persecution, rejection, or the loss of worldly status. But Jesus calls His followers to bold faith, knowing that eternal life with Him is far greater than anything this world offers.

Conclusion

Jesus made it clear: The Christ must suffer, die, and rise again. This was not a mistake or a failure—it was the very heart of God’s redemption plan. Through His suffering, Jesus atoned for the sins of His people.

Peter eventually came to understand this truth. The kingdom of God will be fully realized when Jesus returns, and He will reign forever. Until then, we are called to follow Him, not according to our expectations, but according to His word.

Scripture References

  • Matthew 27:27–31 – Roman soldiers mocked and beat Jesus before His crucifixion.
  • John 19:12–16 – Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and demanded His death.
  • John 19:28–30 – Jesus’ death fulfilled God’s plan of redemption.
  • John 20:11–18 – Mary Magdalene meets the risen Jesus.
  • Matthew 4:8–10 – Satan tempted Jesus to abandon God’s plan for an earthly kingdom.
  • Psalm 72:1–19 – The Messiah’s future reign of justice and peace.
  • Isaiah 53 – Prophecy of the suffering servant who dies for His people.
  • Matthew 24:29–31 – Jesus’ return in glory to judge the world.

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