Jesus knew this would be a problem. He knew that the biggest obstacle to a healthy ministry would be fear of loss, fear of suffering. So he tackled this problem head-on. His solution is the point of this whole book: “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” (Mark 8:34–35). The answer to the abusive pastor was there all the time. It is the cross of Christ. There, on display for all the world to see, was a shepherd who did not save
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