Journey to the Death

Am I willing to imitate Christ? Am I really willing to live as he lived? A study of the phrase, “Son of Man” in the Gospel of Mark reveals to me that I have no desire to truly live out the Gospel.
Mark uses this phrase in three major ways throughout his Gospel.

The first is to discuss his authority. Jesus had authority to forgive sin, as was demonstrated by the healing of the paralytic man in Mark 2. Jesus was the Lord over the Sabbath as we see later in the same Chapter.

After using the phrase twice to discuss Christ’s authority in the first two chapters, Mark doesn’t use the phrase again until 8:31. This is about the time that the journey to Jerusalem starts. Within the context of the Gospel of Mark, this is the journey to Christ’s death.

When he uses the phrase this time, it is referring to the suffering of the Son of Man. This is the main way the phrase is used in the Gospel. Christ is going to suffer and die. He says this three times. Three times it is followed by the disciples misunderstanding and desiring power.

The third way Mark uses the phrase is to speak of the future glory of Christ. Christ will come again on clouds. Mark paints a picture of him splitting open the clouds and judging the world.

This, in essence, is the Gospel of Mark. The Son of Man, the authoritative one as the creator and King of the universe, humbles himself and suffers. He suffers unimaginably. His friends betray him. His Father pours wrath out on Him. His creations kill him.

After this, he goes to glory. He is glorified and sits at the right hand of the Father.

This is the journey he invites us on. To be honest, there are many times I don’t want to go. The Gospel of Mark is a journey to Christ’s death. The entire time, he tells his disciples they must be willing to journey to the death with him. Most of them did.

Jesus is looking for a few ‘ride or die’ people that go with him to the death. The call is a call to follow Christ to his cross. The promise is a future glory that is beyond imagination. I wish the journey were as easy as a walk down an aisle to receive Jesus. I wish the journey were a prayer to receive Jesus. I wish it were a few worship services, ten percent of my income, and a small group bible study. I could take that journey.

Instead, the journey is a call to follow to the death for a promise of future glory. This is the journey we’re called on. You in?