The Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Mark is a call to faithful discipleship in the face of hardship, suffering, and death. “Whoever wants to be my disciple,” Jesus says, “must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
For 1st-century Christians, hardship was all around them, and suffering and death were dispensed freely by the Roman empire. Today, our troubles are less apparent and more self-induced, and suffering looks more like social ostracism and eroding moral norms.
Yet, Jesus’ question remains, are we willing to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him?
