Not long after Peter made the good confession at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus “began to teach…that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected…killed, [and] after three days rise again” (Mk. 8:31). The plainness of His words aroused something within Peter which caused him to rebuke the Lord (vs. 32). But, instead, Jesus turned His back on Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (vs. 33). It is in that setting that Christ said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it” (vss. 34-35).
A disciple of Jesus must be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel. While not all suffering is for the sake of the gospel, when we are called upon to endure suffering for the sake of Christ, we must be willing do so, looking to heaven as our reward.
Discipleship requires suffering. A disciple is a learning follower. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” In what are we to follow Jesus? In self-denial and willingness to suffer for the will of God. Preceding Peter’s foolish attempt to rebuke Christ, are these words: “He was stating the matter plainly.” Why did Jesus make the matter so clear and concise? Because He knew that doing the will of God involves suffering (2 Tim. 3:12).
Jesus is our example in suffering. Peter writes, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…” (1 Pet. 2:21). We must follow in the steps of the One who suffered innocently for doing what was right. Later, in chapter four, Peter encourages his readers to rejoice when they were called into “the suffering of Jesus Christ’ (vs. 13). Then, he goes on to say that “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God” (vs. 16). Why suffer for the cause of Christ? Because we are His disciples. He was willing to suffer for doing right and His followers must be willing to do the same. There is no easy way to follow Jesus.
— Glen Elliott —