The Gospel of Mark: Peter and the First Foretelling

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?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” ~ Mark 8:27-33


Peter is a lot like me. And I'm guessing maybe like you as well.

He's a great stand in for all the followers of Jesus from the last 2000 years.

It took him a while to get it, but it finally seems like he is. After all he's seen and heard, he finally seems to know who Jesus is and how important he is.

Except it takes one piece of information he doesn't like to cause him to dig his heels in. 

No, Jesus. I know how it needs to be. Not your way. Your way sounds too hard. Death? Dying? No, no...we don't need that. You are the Messiah. You can do anything you want. You are powerful. All you need to do is show how powerful you are.

It still feels like we have a lot of Peter in us. But the way of Christ - the way of the Cross - isn't for the faint of heart. 

It isn't about going to church on Sunday. Or singing in the choir. Or making sure Christianity is the most important religion.

It means following, even when things are hard. And they are going to get hard.

You hear a lot these days from those who would seem to want Christianity to be power: to have it be a dominant religion.

Nothing about Jesus is dominating. And when his followers wanted him to be, he reminded them that they weren't setting their minds on the right things. 

Following Jesus isn't about power. It is about surrender.

Yep. I think we might all have a little Peter in us.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Questions:


What does it mean to you to follow Jesus? What are the ways we tend not to want to hear the hard messages of following Jesus?

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