SCRIPTURE
MARK 8:27-30
Peter’s Confession about Jesus
Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
YOU ARE THE CHRIST
REFLECTION
“You are the Christ.” Some Scriptures have Peter saying, “You are the Messiah.” What is the difference? There is no difference. Messiah is a word of Hebrew origin; Christ is a word of Greek origin.
Both titles mean “anointed one.” And by the way Jesus’ last name is NOT Christ.
Many of the prophecies concerning the Messiah included promises that the Messiah would have a kingdom that would never end. (Isa 9:7, Dan 7:14, 2 Sam 7:13). Jesus is the promised one, the anointed one, the Messiah because He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday and His kingdom is everlasting.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
When Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say I am, he wasn’t looking for a survey of public opinion. Jesus knew he had followers and critics and some followers looking for a free meal or spectacular miracle.
No, Jesus was testing his closest disciples. He was also looking for who the Spirit of God inspired. After all Peter a mere human could not come up with this on his own. Peter spoke for all, no one countered with another opinion. Then Jesus warned to keep it to themselves; His hour had not yet come. He had more teaching to do.
Who do we say Jesus is? Do we say it to others? Are we still striving to get our arms around Jesus literally and figuratively? St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of Scripture, is ignorance of Jesus.” When was the last time we cracked open that bible gathering dust on the night stand? We are commissioned at our Baptism to be disciples of Christ to go out, bear witness. How can we bear witness to what we don’t know?
SCRIPTURE
MARK 8:31-33
The First Prediction of the Passion.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man* must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
GET BEHIND ME SATAN
REFLECTION
Now, that Jesus has confirmed who He is, the Messiah He continues teaching what that means from Scripture.
The “Suffering Servant,” has been long understood by the historical Rabbis of Judaism to speak of the Redeemer (Messiah) who will one day come to Zion. a man of suffering, knowing pain.
“Like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured….He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.
Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter…Seized and condemned, he was taken away….struck for the sins of his people….Though he had done no wrong…
By making his life as a reparation offering and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him. Because he surrendered himself to death, was counted among the transgressors, Bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors”. Isaiah 53
Jesus did not mean Peter was Satan, just acting like Satan, the tempter in the dessert. “The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3-4
Jesus rebuked Peter for thinking as human beings think and not as God thinks, wills. How many times do we impulsively speak and act without ever checking what God may think? Do we really have a God filter on our tongue before we speak?
When we speak is our focus on us and what we say or what the other person may or may not hear? An appropriate prayer before we speak to someone, especially a difficult person, may be God help the person I am speaking with hear what You want them to hear.
As Peter was a stumbling block to Jesus fulfilling the will of the Father, are we ever a stumbling blocks to others by our indifference, our pride, our argumentative nature?
SCRIPTURE
MARK 8:34-38
The Conditions of Discipleship.
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel* will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME
REFLECTION
Jesus summoned the crowd. Whenever Jesus summons a crowd in Scripture you know He has some very important information to share. Jesus will lay out what it means to be a disciple. When one is asked are you are a Christian, a person may answer yes I believe in Jesus the Savior who died for my sins and rose again from the dead. But are they are a disciple like we are called to be at our Baptism and confirmed at Confirmation.
What it means to be a disciple is to conform to Jesus, to be Jesus in this world to others.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel* will save it.” What is that all about? We all have a strong sense of self preservation and that is a gift from God. So what life is Jesus talking about here. He is talking about how we live our lives, the choices we make, what is most important to us, where our treasure is. Is God number 1 in our life choices, is our primary goal to give glory and praise to God each and every day?
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Now here, Jesus is talking about end times, for some of us sooner than later. You can’t take anything material with you. All you take is spirit and truth.
How have I loved? Am I thankful for the life God has gifted me with? Have I borne witness to Christ or have I been ashamed, embarrassed, fearful, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Is life eternal with God something I will be compatible with or have I been estranged in my life on earth?