Mark 8:31–34, 36 (NIV) “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ … ‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’”

Philippians 3:10 (NIV) “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Jesus, who is God in the flesh, didn’t live a life of ease or applause. He lived a life of purposeful suffering. He was the Suffering Servant foretold by Isaiah—obedient even to death on a cross.

In the Old Covenant, blessing and cursing depended on obedience. But under the New Covenant, suffering is the promise for obedience now, and blessing is the reward later—when Christ reigns forever on the new earth.

If Jesus suffered for righteousness, then so must His disciples.
If we’re not suffering for obedience, it may mean we’ve chosen comfort over calling.

Like Peter, we often rebuke the very path God has chosen, because we crave safety, not sacrifice. We want the best life now, but Jesus says the best life comes later—after we’ve denied ourselves, carried our cross, and followed Him through hardship for the sake of truth.

Biblical suffering isn’t simply the pain of living in a broken world.
Yes, disease, loss, and grief hurt deeply—but that’s common to all humanity.

The suffering Jesus spoke of is spiritual and intentional:

• Suffering for proclaiming the gospel when the world tells us to stay silent.

• Suffering in resisting sin when our flesh screams for indulgence.

• Suffering for righteousness when obedience costs us relationships, promotions, or peace.

This is the mark of a true disciple—one who endures rejection for the sake of Christ, who embraces the cross rather than escaping it.

Men, if your life feels too comfortable, it may be time to ask:
Am I walking with Christ, or walking away from His cross?

Run today’s play: deny yourself, standing for truth even when it costs you, and choose obedience over ease.

Every time you bear suffering for Jesus’ sake, you confirm your loyalty to Him and grow in likeness to Him.
That’s how we prove we are His disciples—and that’s how we’ll one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”