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what hold's true for the identity of Jesus also holds true for those who would be his disciples

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"And Jesus called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, for whoever save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it, for what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mark 8:34-36)

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who Jesus is overlaps rather closely with who the church is

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both must take up their cross to fulfill their vocation

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chosenness is ordered to the love and service of others

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a love so great that it will be willing to die for others

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whoever wishes to be a follower of Jesus must die onto himself

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Jesus defines what it means to be a beloved son of God

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there is a substantial overlap with what we saw in the book of Genesis

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Old Testament is much like the New Testament on this point

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Joseph thought that his first dream was all about his own power

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disciples follow Jesus in order that they may be the prime beneficiaries when he arises to power

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the sons of Jacob and the disciples both get it wrong on this point

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chosenness is not about power and prestige

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rather it concerns a power of responsibility to use a position of divine favor to benefit others

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for Joseph this meant learning that his own chosenness led to the feeding of his own family and others

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for Jesus, chosenness meant offering his life to others, a task his disciples would be invited to participate in after Jesus' own resurrection

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the travel narrative is punctuated of three predictions of the passion

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first prediction of the passion

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Peter rebuked Jesus for harboring such thoughts about his mission

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Peter was sorely rebuked by Jesus for this

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second prediction of the passion

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"They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." (Mark 9:30-31)

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disciples are now wise enough not to rebuke Jesus

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they don't know what it means

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they are afraid to ask him, recalling the harsh words he gave to Peter

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but the situation is graver than this

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it is one level of mistake to not understand a concept

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it is another level of mistake to hold a position that is diametrically opposite

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in Mark, we have to pay attention to how the stories are juxtaposed

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we have to notice these jarring juxtapositions that these stories present

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"And they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, what were you discussing on the way? But they were silent, for on the way they had discussion with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve, and he said to them, if any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." (Mark 9:33-35)

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"John said to him, Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us. But Jesus said, do not forbid him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be ablet soon aster to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward." (Mark 9:38-40)

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we see the same schema as in the first prediction

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prediction

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a misunderstanding

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a concluding statement about discipleship

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understanding Jesus is understanding one's own role as a disciple of Jesus