Love For His People: Whosoever Will - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Whosoever Will

“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, KJV

The popular ad proclaimed on TV years ago by the USA Armed Services, “looking for a few good men” brought the attention of many. These days, it would have to include women too, to avoid the wrath of some.

It was also a popular movie starring Tom Cruise and Demi Moore.

As the preacher declared on Sunday, “Some of the best men are women.” (And I am not speaking of transgender illusions.)

Jesus wasn’t one to mince words, and because of it, He lost followers when He spoke directly to the hearts of men and women. He wouldn’t have made it on the “politically correct” scene today, now would He? He would have been considered too radical, intolerant of religious people, and one who was just thinking too highly of Himself.

After all, He was proclaiming, rather publicly at times, that He was God. Can you believe that?!

Read what He said to the crowd gathering, who did give Him the time of day, as they were a bit curious as to who He was, and what He was saying.

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38, NKJV

To give you another sense of what Jesus (Yeshua) was clearly saying to the crowd surrounding Him, here is how The Message has this same passage of Scripture, “Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.”

This doesn’t sound like one who was going after the populous vote, does it? When Jesus spoke truth, it certainly divided the crowd. Some got angry. Others just simply walked away. Many chose to go back to what they are doing, believing this wasn’t for them. Now that was an eternal mistake on their part. Here was Someone offering them life, but they instead kept on down the road to anything but that.

“Whosoever will”, the choice to take the first step, and then to keep following the rest of your life thereafter, is offered to all of mankind, but as the Bible also says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” Matthew 7:13, NASB

This day, as in every day, we are called as believers to walk in the steps of our God, Who came to this planet to show us the way. It can be a hard walk. It can get very difficult. It is not a rose garden as some would have thought they were promised.

And it even gets more treacherous, especially if you are brave enough, courageous enough, to stand against the tide, to support the unborn, the sanctity of marriage, the nation of Israel…

Whoever will. Will you?

Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.