By the Campus Ministries team
Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)
In the text for today, we see Jesus in the brilliance of what he does best — teaching the people, unfolding the mystery of who he is and witnessing to the life-altering, miraculous works of God.
Jesus shares the truth of his purpose with his disciples, giving them God’s lesson plan for humanity’s redemption.
Yet, the disciples fail to grasp the mystery that would forever redefine covenant relationship between God and humanity. In fact, Peter finds such difficulty unpacking the reality of what Jesus shares that he pulls aside Jesus to reprimand him.
Peter. Pulls. Aside. Jesus. To. Reprimand. Him… Yep.
Peter dared to hear the plan of God being unfolded and want it easier. He heard that Jesus would suffer and that didn’t fit with how he’d come to understand this journey — or perhaps the assignment — they were on together.
We may never know why Peter chose this moment to be so audacious with Jesus. All we know is Jesus shared the insight of his assignment, was challenged, and had to reiterate the greater purpose behind his divine assignment.
Jesus understood something we often forget in our faith journey. No matter where we are or who we are, we all have an assignment to do. As we move through Lent, may we continue to understand the theology of assignment outlined by Christ as course correction at its finest — realigning the divine/human relationship through an unbreakable covenant.
Jesus’ divine purpose — fulfilled in his blood — eternally changed the course for all humanity, giving unfettered access to God’s hope, passion and presence like never before.
Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)
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. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But 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.”
34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”