[Jesus called] the crowd to him with his disciples… Mark 8:34
In earlier verses, Jesus was speaking privately to all the disciples. In chapter 9 we will see Jesus teaching the inner circle—Peter, James, and John. But here, Jesus is speaking to the crowd: the wider pool of people who might become His followers.
Look at what He says to them: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (8:34-35).
What do you make of this as a sales pitch? “If you are going to follow me you had better be ready to march to your own death.” In most advertising, the costs and risks are hidden in small print—something like this:
Do you wish that you had new energy to bounce out of bed every day? Ask your doctor if Slyvasic is right for you. [Low voice:] Side effects may include nausea, headaches, strokes, and heart attack. [Happy voice:] Slyvasic will change your life. Start living again!
We’re all familiar with this formula: Maximize the benefits, minimize the risks, say very little about the costs. It would be easy to assume that this is how we should do evangelism.
The problem with misrepresenting the product is that you end up with disappointed customers. The number of people who abandon Christian faith raises questions about how the gospel is being presented.
Notice the absolute candor of Jesus Christ. He gives the crowd—the people who are not yet committed—a full picture of what following Him will mean. He starts with the cost.
What do you think of Jesus’ “sales pitch”? Do you appreciate His full disclosure? Or do you find yourself put off by it?
