For I am not ashamed of the gospel….

 

The Book of Mark is an interesting gospel. I have not yet read Tim Keller’s Kings Cross.

But I hear people say great things about what he says. One question I’ll have when reading it is: does he fully speak to all the hard teachings found in it. Or just emphasis certain more marketable concepts. Or does it work to lift up a particular agenda, or key points and leave out others less acceptable? The passage below from Mark 8:34-38 gives an example.

Here Jesus gives a real confirmation of what Paul says in Romans 1:16-17 and in fact it strongly reinforces the whole teaching of Paul in chapter 1 and the entire book and other letters.

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life4 will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”