The Cost of Discipleship (Part 1)

There are a number of things that, as I read through the New Testament, I wish Jesus had not said. Things like, “If your right hand causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30a). Jesus was serious about sin! Things like, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). Jesus wants full loyalty. And I have always been particularly troubled by Jesus command to “take up your cross” and follow him. Each of these sayings reflects the cost of following Jesus. The disciple Mark develops this theme clearly across his narrative. Mark teaches us that following Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it.

Three passages stand out in the development of this theme the first is has to do with this eccentric character named John the Baptist. In Mark 6:14-29 we read about him:

¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’¹ name had become known. Some² said, “John the Baptist³ has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”  ¹⁵ But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”  ¹⁷ For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.  ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,  ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.  ²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”  ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”  ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”  ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.  ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s¹ head. He went and beheaded him in the prison  ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.  ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

This is an important scene not simply because of what it says about John, but because of what it indicates for all disciples.

John is a crazy looking individual. He had wild hair, an unkempt beard, he wore sack cloth, and he ate bugs. He strikes us as more like a wild homeless person than a prophet of the living God, but a prophet of the living God he is. For he speaks boldly and clearly the word of God, even in the face of great authority and power. For John had been rebuking King Herod for stealing his brother’s wife.

Now it didn’t seem to bother Herod too much, but it bothered Herod’s wife a lot. That, of course, meant that it bothered Herod more than he knew. So, the text tells us that he imprisons and through the series of events, beheads John. The story is a bit disturbing for many reasons, but I want to observe the placement of the story more closely.

The authors of the New Testament did not insert things randomly or by accident. This story is placed in this context on purpose. Note that the preceding verses find Jesus sending the disciples out on a missionary journey, and the verses following our story, find the disciples returning from said journey. So what is this story about John the Baptist doing here. If we don’t pay careful attention it can feel like an interruption to the story. But it serves an important purposes: John’s death is ultimately an indication of the kind of suffering all disciples may go through.

In verse 11 we read that the disciples are warned that some will reject them, then we read of John’s death and it is a picture of ultimate rejection. This is what may await those who faithfully obey God, for those who follow Jesus. True disciples may lose their heads!

This isn’t something we often think about here in the United States. None of us really fears that as a result of attending church on Sunday, reading our Bible this morning, or sharing the gospel with our co-workers that we are going to lose our heads. It is, of course, a real concern to Christians in other parts of the world. There are many for whom following Jesus has cost them everything, even their heads. I recall a young woman in a closed country where I helped to smuggle Bibles, who later reported being harassed by police for her allegiance to Christ. This is a real threat for many, and though we may not face it today we must read from John’s death and understand that no Christian is guaranteed a pain-free life.

Think just about the disciples. History tells us that Peter is crucified upside down, James is behead, Paul is beheaded, Philip is run through with a spear, and John is dipped in hot tar and then sent to prison for the rest of his life. This is not simple Christianity! This is not your best life now! This is suffering for choosing to follow Jesus wherever he leads and at whatever cost! There is a cost to discipleship. True disciples may lose their heads!

Following Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it. I think of the countless Christians all throughout history who have given up everything to serve, love, worship, and know Jesus. I think of missionaries who gave up every earthly treasure to go and face certain death on the mission field, and who at the end of their life said: I never made a sacrifice. I think of Jim Elliot, dying by the very hands of those who sought to save, saying “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” It is worth it to lose everything for Jesus. That, in fact, is precisely what Jesus teaches his disciples.

In Mark 10:29-30 we read:

²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,  ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Jesus says that to lose it all is worth it. He promises us blessing. But note that he also promises we will have to leave “houses or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands” and, in addition, he promises “persecutions.” These are the real pictures of the Christian life. But with it comes the guarantee of eternal life, of a return of loss. Jesus teaches a principle: You must lose to gain. It is worth it to lose everything for Jesus.

There is a cost to following Jesus. True disciples may lose their heads. It is not easy to follow Jesus…but it is worth it!