7. “Lessons in discipleship” Mark 8:27-9:13

GETTING TO KNOW JESUS BETTER

1. Jesus is an amazing person

a) He’s hard to understand

See 1:22,27; 2:1-12; 6:1-3; 4:35-41; 6:45-52

b) He’s definitely different! (7:37)

2. Jesus is the Christ/Messiah/Son of God

- At Caesarea Philippi (8:27-29)

a) Jesus asks them a question (8:27)

b) Peter knows the truth (8:29)

c) Now all the events make sense (cf. Lk. 7:16; Matt. 1:23)

d) Now God the Father confirms the truth (9:2-12)

3. Jesus has come to die and rise again

a) Remember Jesus’ response to Peter’s statement of 8:29?

- v.31

Peter couldn’t take it (v. 32)

b) But God’s words confirm it (9:7)

4. Jesus wants His disciples to follow Him all the way (8:34-38)

a) They haven’t understood all the implications yet (v. 34)

b) The will learn more as they walk with Jesus

c) So we get to know Him step by step

TALKING POINTS

7. GETTING TO KNOW JESUS BETTER Mark 8:27-9:13

1. In practical terms how do we get to know someone? What’s involved? How long does it take? If possible, share experiences.

2. How do we get to know Jesus? What’s involved? How long does it take? What are the similarities to getting to know the people we’ve just referred to? What are the differences?

3. What, for you, makes Jesus an amazing person?

4. Following Jesus sometimes led to martyrdom for the early Christians. Read 8:34-38 again. What do they mean for us in modern Britain? What for us do the following phrases imply:

a. `He must deny himself’ (34)?

b. `take up his cross and follow me’ (34)?

c. How can one `lose his life’ for Jesus and His message and yet `save it’ (35)?

d. Why is one’s `soul’ or `life’ more important than `gaining the whole world’ (36)?

5. How would you respond to someone who said, `I don’t see why I should be prepared to die for Jesus.’?

6. Common ideas about Christ or the Messiah were that He would reign as a victorious King over Israel, defeating the Romans and all Israel’s enemies. What kind of Messiah did Jesus show Himself to be? See 8:31. Why was this a vital part of His calling and mission? How does Isaiah 53:3-12 help us to understand this?

7. What do we discover about Jesus from the transfiguration (9:2-10)?