September 2018 Messenger Newsletter

Services Canceled today due to Tropical Storm Florence

"And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone
about him."
(Mark 8:30)

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
Mark 8:28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
Mark 8:29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
Mark 8:30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Mark 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
Mark 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

[Mark 8:29] Peter's recognition that Jesus is "the Christ" (the Messiah, see note at 1:1) is pivotal in the Gospel of Mark.

[Mark 8:30] See chart, "The Messianic Secret in Mark," Mark 1:44.

[Mark 8:31] (vv. 8:31-10:52) In this section, which focuses primarily on Jesus' teaching of His disciples, there is a recurring structure which enables us to ascertain the author's intent. Three times Jesus predicts His own suffering and death (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34). Following each of these predictions is a section on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Jesus teaches His disciples that (contrary to current Jewish expectations) He is the Messiah whose true mission is to suffer and die for His people, and He teaches them that true discipleship means complete commitment to Him and selfless service for others.

[Mark 8:32] Peter's "rebuke" of Jesus was due to his still incomplete understanding of the true mission of the Messiah. Peter could not reconcile the idea of the suffering Messiah with the current Jewish notions. The O.T. had predicted a Messiah who would suffer and die for the sins of the people (cf. Isa. 53), and this message became the central focus for the early church (cf. Acts 17:2, 3).

[Mark 8:35] One of the apparent paradoxes of Scripture relates to the voluntary sacrifice of a man's life for the cause of Christ. The verse does not demand martyrdom in order to secure life. However, the passage does establish that men coming to Christ must give Him their lives in such totality that they retain no claim upon them. Having placed themselves forever in the hands of Christ, they immediately possess the abundant life.

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

Readings for the week of September 23rd
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
First: Jeremiah 11: 18-20
Psalm 54
Second: James 3: 13—4:3, 7-8a
Gospel: Mark 9: 30-37

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon