This is the sermon I gave to my class on March 23, 2007:
Hear the Word of the Lord from the Gospel of Mark 8:27-38.
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29”But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
The Scriptures claim, particularly Mark’s Gospel, that if we are Christ followers, in some real way we all should expect suffering. We should anticipate trials and tribulations. Ironically, the Scriptures also tell us that only in our sufferings do we discover hope, community, and identity. We discover who we truly are in Christ in the midst of our sufferings. The gospel we believe is a gospel of suffering. It may NOT sell well—but it is far more authentic.
Jesus is on the move. He and his disciples have left Corazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida for a two-day journey to Caesarea Philippi. While on the way Jesus asks them a couple questions about his identity. First he asks them, “Who do people say I am?” The collective response is mixed, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and others one of the prophets.” It appears there is no clear consensus among the people about who Jesus is.
Then, Jesus turns the heat up just a little bit and asks a second question, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered for the group, “You are the Christ.” But then what happens? Jesus rebukes Peter and the others and warns them not to tell anyone who he is! Why? Why would Jesus do that? Why would Jesus rebuke his disciples for offering up a correct answer? Why then would Jesus tell everyone to keep quiet? Probably because Peter was offering “lip service” to Jesus. Peter on behalf of the others confessed with his lips but in his heart he did not understand. Just like the blind man of Bethsaida whom Jesus healed – Peter and the other disciples’ vision is cloudy. Jesus knows his disciples don’t see him clearly in their hearts. He is still a mystery to them. So what better time than now to make their vision clearer? If Jesus is the Christ, what better time than now to tell everyone listening who he really is and what he’s going to do.
Jesus explains to his disciples that he must suffer and must be killed and after three days he will rise. Peter and the others are blown away by Jesus’ words. Did he just say what I think he said? Did Jesus just say that he’s going to suffer and be killed and then rise from the grave? I don’t know about you but I’m not so sure I want to follow this Jesus. I didn’t sign up for suffering and death! You can sense the plot thickening as Peter takes Jesus aside. All eyes are watching as Peter comes forward, “Time out, Rabbi. Timeout. Rabbi, what are you talking about? Surely you won’t be killed! Impossible! And what’s all this nonsense about rising after three days?!” And on and on Peter goes.
As I have been reflecting on these verses, I can’t help but feel that Jesus interrupts Peter. While Peter is talking to Jesus, Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and THEN he cut Peter off mid-sentence, “Get behind me Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.”
If we read between the lines here – what Jesus was really saying was, “YOU do not have in mind the things of God, but I do! Now, get back with the others and follow me because I know the way you and I are to go!” Lest there be any confusion, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that he knows the way. The proverbial line has now been drawn. Jesus then tells his disciples what they must do to follow him…Jesus is the Christ, and he has his mind set on the things of God.
Jesus said that anyone who comes after him must do three things –
Deny yourself;
Take up your cross;
And follow him.
How often have we heard the words, “deny yourself and take up your cross” and forgotten those words mean the first century equivalent of “I’m strapping myself into the electric chair.” An 18th century preacher and theologian from England, John Wesley said, “The denying of ourselves and the taking up of our cross is not a small concern. It is absolutely necessary, in the very nature, of the thing, to our coming after him and following Him; insomuch that, as far as we do not practice it, we are not his disciples. If we do not continually deny ourselves, we do not learn of Him, but of other masters. If we do not take up our cross daily, we do not come after Him but after the world, or our own fleshly mind. If we are not walking in the way of the cross, we are not treading in his steps; but going back from, or at least wide of, Him.”
Jesus commands his followers to follow him by demanding that they deny themselves and take up their crosses. Why should we walk in the way of the cross and tread in Jesus’ steps? Why should we walk in the way of suffering and follow Jesus? Because Jesus really is the Christ. Jesus really is the Son of God and he has his head, his heart, his hands, and his feet constantly pointed toward the things of God – he knows the way we should go in this life and if we put our faith and trust in him to lead the way, he will lead us to eternal life.
We are a room full of Jesus followers, and I believe that everyone here has experienced a season of suffering, deep loss, or hardship in life – where you shout at Jesus like Peter – wait a minute! I didn’t sign up for this!! You especially may feel this way if you are a Cubs fan or a Detroit Lions fan! Imagine if you were both!
Jesus invites each of us to follow him on the journey of life. He invites us to put him first in our lives. To take up our crosses and follow him through the great times – filled with joy and peace, and through the bad – filled with sorrow and suffering.
If we accept his invitation to follow him, he assures us that we are not alone in our journey. He leads us every step of the way because he is the living Christ –the Son of God – and he has his mind on the things of God and he knows the way we should go.
