Mark 8

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (v36).  Peter’s resistance to the idea of the Messiah’s suffering and death revealed that he hadn’t yet grasped the Way of Jesus.  Peter recognized Jesus’ Lordship (v29), but he still thought Jesus could be Lord using “normal” means: worldly power, worldly victory, worldly applause.  Jesus called this resistance demonic (v33), and he declared that only those who embraced the loving self-sacrifice of the cross would find life. 

“If anyone would come after me …” (v34). Following Jesus means embracing His powerful, loving self-surrender - the cross - as both our salvation and as the way we live out His kingdom in this world.