‘Who do people say that I am?’ is one of those questions Jesus asked that exposed so much. It’s a great question to be asking in our preaching context. As we think about this reading, it’s a good question to ask ourselves too.
Reading: Mark 8.27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
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. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 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.”
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. 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. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 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 holy angels.”
Questions:
- Who do you say that Jesus is?
- What do we find unpalatable about what Jesus says, particularly around suffering?
- What does denying myself and taking up my cross look like in my life?
Things to think about with the child at the centre:
Carrying a cross – can we actually carry a cross through the church together? How heavy and awkward. A response to put onto the cross some of the barriers we have to following Jesus.
Following Jesus isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding in the long term. Peter wanted the sanitised version of the Messiah – all the nice fun bits without the hard work and suffering. That is the temptation the Devil makes to Jesus in the wilderness – an easy kingdom without the hard graft.
Lottery winners who end up back where they started (70% end up with no savings, 30% declare bankruptcy) – if you’re given a big prize with no effort, you don’t value it.
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