Mark 8:33-34

8:33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” ¹ 

Following Jesus

8:34 Then ²  Jesus ³  called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁴  he must deny ⁵  himself, take up his cross, ⁶  and follow me.

[8:33]  ¹ tn Grk “people’s.”

[8:34]  ² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:34]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:34]  ⁴ tn Grk “to follow after me.”

[8:34]  ⁵ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[8:34]  ⁶ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.