Mark 8:27-38 ESV
27 And Jesus went on with his
disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his
disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And
they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others,
one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who
do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You
are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged
them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by
the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after
three days rise again. 32 And he said
this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But
turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get
behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God,
but on the things of man.”
34 And calling the crowd to
him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me. 35 For whoever
would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my
sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what
does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what
can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever
is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of
his Father with the holy angels.”
A Division
We approach a division here in this passage of Scripture. Jesus is now
pointing his disciples to begin to see the way of the Cross. Once again, as we
experienced last week, in Jesus’ baptism, wilderness temptation, and turn to the
proclamation of the Gospel; we see another pivotal point in Jesus’ ministry. From
now on Jesus points to his future suffering, death and resurrection.
Reflecting upon my study notes this week; I realized deeper meaning than
I ever expected. So, here goes…
Yes… we have a change once again. Jesus is not pointing to Himself as
God. Before this point in Jesus’ ministry, He pointed to the Father. More
specifically the Father’s will for Jesus’ ministry. Jesus also pointed to the
Holy Spirit’s presence in Him and working through Him.
Then, Jesus gets direct with his disciples. Jesus is direct with you and
I as well. As disciples of today, as believers… Jesus challenges us with a
question. Who do we say Jesus is?
Today? We know how Jesus’ life has influenced people throughout time. We
are aware of this from our vantage point of over 2000 years since the time of
Jesus walking this earth. This can’t be ignored. Why do we still discuss this
One man? Why has a Church come into existence? Who do we, today, say Jesus is? Some
people believe, some people poo-poo the whole thing. Some people deny all of
Jesus as some made up story. But the fact is… that story… this Jesus… still
impacts today and the future in which we live. This “Jesus” stuff just doesn’t
and hasn’t gone away.
Thinking about the question… Who do we say Jesus is? --- This is a
question that can’t be ignored. We must look not only at this time and place in
which we live… No… We must look at ALL time. For myself… I admit… this Jesus
has had an impact on my world and IS eternal.
It’s time you stop and think… it’s time you, as well, pose this question….
Who do you say Jesus is?
I, like Peter, but with the Word in my hand, proclaim Jesus as Messiah. But
my belief and Peter’s belief as Jesus the Messiah; does not come from any great
wisdom of my own. My and Peter’s belief as Jesus as Messiah, is an act of faith
given to us from God. This act of faith is not an act of my own wisdom or
understanding. Faith is not about something I do. Faith is a gift from God that
grows. Faith is a gift from God that grows in Peter, and in each of us.
Peter’s proclamation, my proclamation and perhaps your proclamation, of
Jesus as Messiah is an act of faith that comes from outside, to within, to
outside of ourselves. Faith is something God develops and gives to each of us.
But… here… in this passage…
Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as Messiah is definitely Truth, but it’s
also off the mark. Jesus is NOT the Messiah that Peter thinks he is.
It’s a trap we all fall into. We read the Word. We see Jesus’ acts of
love. Suddenly, like Peter, we are trapped into thinking of Jesus as only a
miracle worker, only a wonder worker, only One to rescue me from the perils of
this world, so that life will be easier for me, for you, for Peter, for the
Church and for all of Jesus’ followers and disciples.
Jesus is NOT the Messiah as an earthly king… He is the Son of God!
But… there is more to this Jesus, Messiah… WAY more!
I along with Peter and perhaps you too, want to look away from and even
deny that there is suffering, and death in this Jesus our Messiah. I don’t want
to recognize this and Peter didn’t want to recognize this as well. Peter doesn’t
recognize this as yet in this passage of Scripture. Peter doesn’t recognize the
deepest insight into Jesus Messiah.
You see… Peter… as with the demons… recognize Jesus as the Messiah… But
this time is not right just yet for this revelation to all the world. Jesus
instructs his disciples, at this point in time, to not tell anyone what Peter
has proclaimed… Jesus as Messiah.
As Jesus tells Peter and the disciples that He will undergo suffering and
death and resurrection. Jesus declares Truth plainly to his disciples. This
truth is not something they want to hear. This just can’t be true! Peter pulls
Jesus aside… Almost like, listen to me Jesus, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Let me save you from this suffering and death! Listen to me, Jesus!
My love for Jesus would perhaps come out in the same way. I’m not unlike
Peter. Maybe you would act like Peter did in this passage as well. This is
Jesus, the one we follow. This is Jesus the one we love. We don’t want any harm
to come to him in any way. We must reach out to Jesus and help!
This emotion drew me back into the Old Testament. It’s an action taken by
Uzzah. I remember reading this and questioning… what?... why?... what response
is this?
As David was dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, the seat of God, as
it was being brought to Jerusalem, going up a hill, the oxen pulling it
stumbled. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady this sacred Ark, this seat of
God.
2 Samuel 6:6-7 ESV
6 And when they came to the threshing floor
of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of
it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of
the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down
there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
What? Why? Uzzah was just trying to help!
But then it occurred to me… like Peter pulling Jesus aside… Who saves
who? Does God need me to steady the Ark? Does Jesus need my direction? Does
Jesus need Peter’s advice on the will of God for Jesus?
Peter attempts to turn Jesus away from God’s will… mistakenly… But this
pulling away is just as Satan desires.
We want to deny Jesus’ suffering and death. We want to deny this cost of
salvation. We want to deny this cost of discipleship. No… we prefer the “cheerful”
stuff. We prefer a Gospel of prosperity and goodness. We prefer this goody-goody
stuff of following Jesus.
But… Salvation comes through death. For death must precede resurrection.
The merely “cheerful” views of salvation are from Satan! Satan tries to
reduce salvation to cheerful common sense. It IS NOT!!!
Jesus response to Peter pulling Him aside? (In my words) --- Get out of
here! Go away! Get!
There is a cost to discipleship!
Jesus calls us to WORK! Not easy work, No! There is glory AND pain in
this Gospel salvation. Pain that comes along with the scarred hands of Jesus.
We must set our minds on Jesus. Not our own ease and comfort. Set our
minds on Jesus will for our discipleship.
And Jesus calls us together to level with us. We must deny ourselves.
Life is not about our “cheerfulness.” That’s to come, but not here and now. We receive
glimpses, for sure, but first this denial thing.
Denial is NOT just giving up things, in giving up luxuries, pleasures, and
delights. We deny, when we KNOW that we are not the means or end of salvation. Salvation
is from Christ… NOT… yourself… Not me!
Our life must be Christ centered. We submit our life to God.
So, what about this Cross thing? What is it, in this passage? The Cross
is not our burden. The Cross is not our sorrow. The Cross is not our loss. The
Cross is not our shortcomings. The Cross is not what happens to us. The Cross
is not about you. The Cross is not about me. The Cross is not something I do to
earn God’s favor! No! The Cross is a choice. The Cross is a beautiful and
wonderful choice we make to give our life to God. To serve God and to seek God’s
will for us in our life, here and into the future. Why?
The Cross is the cost of discipleship, the struggle to love God and all
those God gives to us, in the face of evil. We MUST look to the Cross. We focus
on the Cross. And on that Cross, what do we see? We see Jesus! We see salvation!
Lose your life. Why? To live out the love of Christ to God and all who God
sets before you. Love THEM! It’s about loving them, not yourself. In the face
of the therapist and self-help people…. We love them first!
1 John 4:19 ESV (my favorite Bible verse)
19 We love because he first loved us.
So, make your choices in the face of eternity. Choose Christ…. After all,
… He chose you first!
Jesus died for me, and Jesus died for you… a sinner. Live for God. God
changes us and makes us new through his promises.
So, there you have it. This was a much deeper dive than I ever expected.
God inspires me with His Word. May you be inspired this week as you attend
worship, listen to the Gospel and hear God’s Word spoken through your pastor,
priest or minister. May you see God’s presence in Word, Sacrament and all those
gathered about you. --- May God bless you today… tomorrow… and forever!
I leave you with this wonderful reflective YouTube music that inspired me
this week.
Enjoy!
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