Contemporary American Christianity has an obsession with wealth and prosperity. This preoccupation is the result of misunderstanding precisely what discipleship requires. The breathtaking expectation for Jesus-followers confronts dramatically the only man mentioned in the Gospels who went away sad from the presence of Jesus.

Family life in every generation is a special target of the enemies of God. Marriage is intended as a model for the gospel and children are fresh reminders of the image of God impressed on every living soul. Accordingly, Jesus takes marriage and children seriously, even personally. Shouldn’t the Church be devoted to the same priorities as our Lord?

As Jesus continues instruction on discipleship in light of His upcoming rejection and death, He now confronts the selfish ambition and envy found within His own small group of disciples. Mark collects a variety of related sayings in this chapter in order to summarize the critical importance of adopting the standards of Jesus for the life of faith.

As delegation of ministry to the disciples continues, a colossal failure is discovered by the group returning from the transfiguration. Jesus responds in a way that reveals the dethroning of Satan is always a reversal of death and an affirmation of life. There is a practical lesson here—as wonderful and important as mountaintop experiences can be, a disciple’s primary occupation is in the valley of service.

Mark wants us to understand that Jesus is more than what He appears to be, that He is, in fact, the Son of God unquestionably. He had to suffer, but suffering was not His ultimate destiny. His destiny was to be glorified. The mystery here is the balance and chronology between the two realities—Suffering Servant and Glorified King.

The call to follow Jesus is not a blind leap of faith into the darkness. It is, rather, an act of will based on rational calculations related to life and eternity. Discipleship involves suffering. If the Messiah must suffer, so must His followers. But weighing the options, this suffering is a worthwhile trade for the guarantee of what’s to come.

After two years of following Jesus, the disciples turn the corner into the final stretch of preparation for service. The journey to Jerusalem begins now with the revelation of the true mission of Jesus. Dramatically, they display the reality that spiritual maturity and understanding most often comes gradually through extended times in His presence.

Drawing from the memories of Peter, Mark now recounts the embarrassing story of Jewish experts in the Law and inner circle followers of Jesus both displaying less grasp of who Jesus is than a spiritually hungry crowd of uneducated Jews and Gentiles. Simple faith pleases God. Everything else just gets in the way.

Mark has consistently put on display the determined unbelief of the scribes and Pharisees as well as the continuing dullness of Jesus’ own disciples. Here he prominently points to belief and understanding found in the unlikeliest of places…among Gentiles! The promise of the gospel for all nations is declared openly right here!

Biblical leadership is one of the critical factors determining the health and growth of a church. Long-term vision and daily decisions both require sound leadership combined with a supportive church family. Only with biblical leadership and biblical structure may a church experience biblical results.