In this mid-Pentecost season, a number of the lectionary
readings have said some pretty powerful things about what we do with our lives
if we are to be true disciples of Jesus.
As one example, the reading in Mark about Peter’s confession at Caesarea
Phillippi asks some harsh questions.
Mark is the earliest of the gospel accounts written and is most direct
and terse. Matthew and Luke tame this
story. In Mark, Peter is rebuked for his
understanding of who Messiah is. In
Matthew, Peter is praised for acknowledgment of Messiah and told that he is the
rock on which Jesus would build his church.
Luke says nothing of what Matthew says, but he softens the exchange
between Jesus and Peter, saying nothing about any harsh words between them as
found in Mark.
Read this exchange between Peter and Jesus in Mark 8:27-38.
As the passage proceeds, Jesus says some scandalous things
about who he is. Peter believed that
the Messiah is the one they had been expecting for centuries whom God would
anoint to lead the revolt and overthrow their dictators and oppressors. “You’re the one!”, Peter thought. “We’re ready to pick up the sword and to be
your captains to stir the people up to follow your lead.” But Jesus in turn rebuked Peter in front of
the other disciples: called him a name –
Satan. “Shame on you, Peter! I’m talking about the ways of God and your
mind is trapped by your own expectations.
I am NOT going to be a worldly liberator who will free the people from
tyranny. You have your mind set on your
own earthly expectations and not the ways of God.”
More scandalous, Jesus told them that Messiah must suffer and
be rejected by their own religious leaders – must be killed and rise again.
Still more scandalous, Jesus told the listening crowd that if
they wanted to save their lives, they were to take up their crosses and follow
Jesus. “You who try to save your lives
will lose them, and those who lose their lives for my sake and the gospel will
save them.”
At first reading, we are not really threatened by this. What are the chances that something will force
us to make a discipleship choice that could cause us to lose our lives? Actually and physically to suffer and die for
Jesus? For most of us, this is pretty
remote, really. But read the text again
with the understanding of “trying to save our lives” meaning saving the way
of life that is known, comfortable, prosperous, and safe when discipleship
calls us to relinquish that comfort or prosperity or safety in behalf of the
compassionate and merciful and peaceful ways of Jesus. That’s
different. Threatening. Hard.
Discipleship has its ultimate reward of blessing with God. In the meantime, discipleship may be costly –
costing us a way of life that is contrary to our Christlike calling.
O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me see thy footprints, and
in them plant my own,
My cross to carry fully, to trust
your strength alone.Let me deny my lifestyle when varied from your ways.
Receive me then in Heaven at the ending of my days.
Rev. Jack Lipphardt
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