Mark 8:34

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Mark 8:1-38

This was the second miracle of feeding. Our Lord knew whence these people came, and was solicitous for them on their long journey home if they departed without food. The miracle was the result. The warning given to the disciples was consequent on the request of the Pharisees for a sign from heaven. This desire for a sign beyond those given was, and is, a danger. Those who live in unbroken communion with God do not seek for signs, but find them in all the miraculous movements of the most... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:34

CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS‘And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ Mark 8:34 Here is the one rule which binds us to-day. There are three points in it—they are not all the same—‘Let him deny himself,’ ‘Let him take up his cross,’ ‘Let him follow Me.’ A man may deny himself in no Christian spirit. I. Self-denial is the secret of success in everything. The notion... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:1-38

SECTION 3. Jesus’ Ministry Throughout Galilee and In The Surrounding Regions (4:35-9:32). After the initial opening up of the story of Jesus with its continual emphasis on His unique authority, Who He was and what He had come to do (Mark 4:1-3), and the series of parables which have indicated how the Kingly Rule of God was to expand (Mark 4:1-34), Mark now indicates how this expansion continued to occur through the ministry of Jesus in Galilee and the surrounding regions. At the same time he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:22-38

The Eyes of The Disciples Are Opened (8:22-9:33a). Following on Jesus’ concern at the lack of understanding of the disciples we now learn how their eyes are gradually opened to see at least something of the truth. The subsection commences with the healing of a blind man in two stages, a picture of what is happening to the disciples, and moves on to the disciples’ recognition that Jesus is the Messiah. The consequence of this is that Jesus then begins to emphasise that His way is to be a way of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:34-35

‘And he called to him the large crowd 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 will save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News shall find it.” ’ This sudden reference to ‘a crowd’ reminds us that large crowds and Jesus were never far apart. The tendency of many has been to think of this time in Caesarea Philippi as a private period... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:34-38

Jesus Addresses The Disciples Along With A Gathered Crowd (8:34-38). Analysis of 8:34-38 a And He called to Him the crowd 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” (Mark 8:34). b For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:35). c For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? (Mark 8:36). ... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27 to Mark 9:1 . The Great Confession, and the First View of the Cross.— Here opens a new section of the gospel. The tendency to seek retirement with the Twelve, pronounced from Mark 6:31 onwards, now dominates the story. Jesus devotes Himself to training the Twelve in the shadow of the Cross. This concentration on His disciples becomes possible when they pierce His secret. The full significance of the confession is only apparent if Jesus has not previously revealed Himself or been... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Mark 8:34

Our Saviour hearing Peter so stumble at the news, he told him, and the rest, of the cross which himself was to endure; and taking notice of his exceeding fondness to gratify himself, to the prejudice of a far greater good, he now tells them the law of his discipleship, that as he was not to please himself, nor to decline afflictions for the gospel, so neither must any who would be his followers; they must all deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow him. And because this was a hard saying... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Mark 8:27-38

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTESMark 8:27. Cæsarea Philippi.—This picturesquely situated town, originally called Paneas, after a cavern dedicated to Pan in its neighbourhood, was enlarged and fortified by Herod Philip, who also renamed it in honour of the emperor. Then, to distinguish it from the Cæsarea on the Mediterranean coast—the seat of the Roman government, where Cornelius lived and Paul suffered imprisonment—it was styled “Cæsarea Philippi.” The name was again changed to Neronias by... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Mark 8:34

Mark 8:34 I. Such were the terms by which Jesus Christ sought to enlist men in His service. They came around Him attracted by His holiness, and curious to know more about Him. He offered them three attractions self-denial, shame, and absolute surrender. Unless they were content with these, they could not enter His army. We have almost lost sight of the strangeness of the summons. "To take up the Cross" has become a religious phrase. We use it almost mechanically; nay, when we are most reverent,... read more

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