Don’t for a minute think walking as a humble servant is easy, comfortable, or for the weak. To be great in the Kingdom is to be the servant of all, and being a servant is not for the faint-of-heart. Faithful followership of Jesus is about a radical obedience that serves others and battles sin with an unwavering commitment to the King.

Someone famously said, “Everyone wants to be a servant until you are treated like one.” I’ve certainly found that to be true in my own life. I want to selflessly, sacrificially serve people, and yet my pride rises when I feel slighted or go un-thanked. We, like the disciples, need yet another lesson in discipleship. Following Jesus means following the way of the Servant. Denying ourselves means giving our lives away without looking to gain anything. This is the way of the servant.

In one of the most fantastic scenes in Biblical history, the veil of Jesus’ humanity is peeled back and three humans become witnesses to the future indescribable glory of the King. What a gift they were given in the treacherous journey of discipleship here on earth to see what is to come. Disciples, then and now, must embrace that the cross comes before the crown, suffering before glory. But what motivation this account ought to give to all who would follow Jesus to stay motivated and faithful, never giving up on the call to follow Jesus.

To understand who Jesus is demands following what Jesus requires. Jesus’ path of obedience to the Father went through the suffering of the cross before the glory of heaven, and ours does too. But make no mistake, the cost of following King Jesus now is worth more than anything and everything this world has to offer. Trusting, obeying and following Jesus is always your very best option!

Jesus heals a blind man in two steps; the disciples are challenged to explain who Jesus is. How do these two events relate to each other? John Mark intentionally constructs these two accounts to show us our spiritual blindness and the remedy for our lack of sight. An intimate, vulnerable encounter with Jesus will bring us into the light!

Dull in understanding, slow to believe, and lazy in obedience … all characteristics of the disciples. Mind you, these Twelve were with Jesus, learning by His side. If that’s the case with them, we ought all to be on guard that we don’t develop a hard heart. Jesus warns them against the little “leavens” that corrupt the heart, and we would do well to listen in on His warnings too!

Here we go again … another feeding, more fights with the Jewish leaders, and a lack of complete understanding by the disciples. Why does John Mark (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) include these events here in chapter eight? If we look carefully, we see the compassion of Jesus spreading as the disciples understand a little bit more. As for the Pharisees, they can’t see what’s right in front of their faces. Oh God, give us understanding of your Son Jesus so that we follow Him with our whole hearts!