The Turn
Mark 8:27-9:29
Jesus is the King, but a king going to a cross to die. And to turn and follow Jesus, to be his disciple, we must die too.

Review:
Jesus - Savior, King, Son of God
Mark 1-8: Jesus the King
Mark: 8-16: A King on a Cross

The King:
Peter has seen Jesus’ power and authority, but God helps him to recognize that Jesus is THE savior for him, for everyone.

King on a Cross:
Jesus says he must die. This is a huge turn from what they expected, and what they wanted.

Jesus’ death is necessary for a few reasons:
1) Jesus’ proves God’s love by loving us even to his death,
2) Our sins are done against him and cause death, but he offers to forgive us,
3) The cross reveals the deep brokenness of people and societies but also the great love of God.

Our Cross:
We often try to find life in our achievements, actions, successes. Jesus says that in order to find life, we will have to turn and follow his steps towards surrender and the death of what we want for what God wants.

Worshiping the King:
At Jesus’ transfiguration God came and met them. It is overwhelming, even frightening to meet God. We want to turn and hide. But we were made to encounter and have a relationship with God. Encountering God is worship.

Worship Prepares us for the Cross:
The times the Father affirmed Jesus (Baptism before temptation, mountain before cross) prepared him for the hard, but important time ahead. God uses worship to prepare us for our cross.

Weekly Reflection: The Turn: Mark 8-9
Daily prayer: God, In my relationships with others, may I have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! And You raised Jesus from the dead! (Philippians 2:5-8)

Day 1: The King Read Mark 8:27-30 What do you expect your political leader to accomplish? What do you expect your pastor to accomplish? What do you expect God to accomplish? Confess: Jesus, I need a savior and only you (not myself, not my leaders, not others, not things) can save me. You are the King.

Day 2: King on a Cross Read Mark 8:31-32 Jesus said as king he must die. How do we react when our leaders do not do what we want or hoped they would do? Confess: Jesus, help me turn to accept how you do things and to trust you know best.

Day 3: Our Cross - Read Mark 8:34-9:1 Jesus says to follow him means we must be willing to go to a cross and to die (to what we want, to our ways of doing things). Why would our ways lead to death? How would dying to these and trusting Jesus lead to life? Confess: Jesus, help me to turn and trust you more than myself, what others say about me, my accomplishments, or my finances.

Day 4: Worshiping Mark 7:31-37 Reflect on times when God has come close to you. Was it overwhelming or frightening to listen or obey him? Why or why not? Ask God about a time when you try to keep him at a safe distance and why. Confess: God, you made me for worship; to interact with you. Help me to come humbly before you, for you alone can satisfy me.

Day 5: Worship Prepares for the Cross Read Mark 9:9-13 Reflect on times when God encountered you. How did it encourage and prepare you for what was ahead? Confess: Jesus, it is in dying that I discover true life. Strengthen me for the journey ahead. Help me remember I do not walk alone, I follow in steps you have already walked, and you are with me.