lenten devotion

Mark 8:31-38 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. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 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." 34 He 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. 35 For 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. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those 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 angels.

Meditation: This lonely band of outlaws, the disciples, huddled together around Jesus. They were so optimistic about their future ministry and ambitions. They were going to Jerusalem, and (who knows!) maybe change the world. Yet, now they were confronted with this stark, almost fatalistic, message about suffering and the cross- and any message that diverted Jesus from the way of the cross was not only a misunderstanding, but a satanic temptation. Surely the disciples now worried about their own safety, not to mention Jesus' mental stability- A religious fanatic with a death wish.

In our context Jesus' message of the cross has become a spiritual metaphor for inward suffering, or as the means by which we surrender heart and mind to God. Yet, the disciples didn’t have the luxury of considering the cross metaphorically. They weren’t taught by brilliant exegetes- all they had were Jesus' own words. And Jesus himself. Peter was shown that there was to be no pragmatic compromise with the satanic powers in the world. Only a lonely journey to the cross, one frightful step at a time, would transform history. A broken God, who in the humiliation of crucifixion wasn't afforded the dignity by which he could cover the shame in his face with his hands, willed our salvation.

Prayer: Forgive us God, when we treat our callings as career opportunities. Forgive us when we are tempted to forfeit our souls for the sake of approval. This is not what drew us to ministry. But you, O Lord, called us to witness to the power of your cross and resurrection. Teach us anew the cost of discipleship, for our neighbor's sake, and for the sake of the eternal and living beauty of your kingdom come. Amen.