Introduction
With our passages
today we come to the centre of Mark’s account. We come to the heart of the
gospel and hear just what it is that Jesus wants us to be and to do. With this
in mind we walk together the text with and then work with one strand we find
there. I found preparation to be more challenging than usual this week because
there is so much in the text. We could spend the next month or three here
without difficulty, and still no exhaust what the text says to us.
Mark 8:27-9:8
8:27-30
The first section
brings the question, “Who is this guy?”, to its climax. Jesus knows the answer
before he asks, “Who do people say I am?” The interchange is intended rather to
help the disciples process the question for themselves. Then Peter verbalizes
the answer; “You are the Messiah.”
This is the climax of
the Messianic secret. As we have noted several times in the previous chapters,
Jesus provokes people to wonder who he is and to speculate that he is the
Messiah. After each act of healing, or exorcism, or forgiveness, he says,
“Don’t tell anyone.” The people thought they knew what the Messiah would be,
and they were wrong. So Jesus works to give them a new understanding.
Think of it this way.
The Jews of Jesus’ day were playing a game with great enthusiasm. We might call
the game, “Spot the Messiah”, sort of like a Where’s Waldo exercise as they tried
to see who would come forward as God’s representative to throw out their Roman rulers.
Jesus changed the rules of the game. Each time that they think they see the
Messiah, he does something to make them wonder how he could possibly be the
Messiah. Finally, the disciples really come to grips with what he is doing, and
they get it: “You are the Messiah!”
The final verse in
this section, “Don’t tell anyone”, keeps the game going for everyone else.
Jesus will not short-circuit the process. People have to work it out for
themselves as they keep playing, “Spot the Messiah.”
8:31-33
Peter’s great confession is followed
immediately by his great failure. He has not yet grasped the depth of Jesus’
identity as the Messiah of God. Jesus starts talking about the way that he will
die—indeed, the way that the Messiah must suffer and die, before he can rise
from the dead. Peter responds by telling him that this cannot be. You see that
Peter is still stuck with the old wrong idea about the Messiah. The Messiah is
a conquering hero, not a suffering peasant! Jesus responds strongly: Get behind
me Satan! The identification of the Messiah with conquest and power is a lie of
the Devil!
8:34-9:1
Then Jesus puts his rebuke of Peter into the
form of a general principle: Whoever would follow Jesus [that is what “be my
disciple” means] must truly follow him—that is, the follower of Jesus imitates
him in life and in death. Resurrection comes only to those who die in and with
Christ.
Jesus closes this section with the verse: “Truly
I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see
that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Some people wonder how this can
be, taking “come with power” to refer to Jesus’ second coming. We observe that
the promise is fulfilled in several different ways—in the transfiguration that
follows, in Jesus’ resurrection, and in the second coming at the end of time.
Of these several layers, I see the resurrection as central.
9:2-8
So we come to the scene of the
Transfiguration. Six days after the events we have just described, Jesus took
Peter, James, and John up a high mountain for an experience almost beyond
description. Jesus was “transfigured” as he stood before them.
Clearly this event
recalls Moses ascending Mount Sinai with Joshua in Exodus 24:
13Then Moses set
out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “wait here for us until we come back
to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”15 When
Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the
mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.
You see the parallels.
There are various other events in between
Moses going up the mountain with Joshua and his final descent with the renewed
tablets in Exodus 34, but notice especially verse 29:
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the
covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the
Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near
him.
This event brings together Elijah the prophet
and Moses the lawgiver with Jesus, the Son of God, making clear that Peter,
James, and John find themselves in the presence of God, who is bringing about
the salvation of the world. As noted above, we can see this transfiguration of
Christ as fulfilling verse 1. Peter, James, and John see the coming of the
kingdom in power and great glory, even if it is not the final fulfillment of
this verse in Jesus’ resurrection and second coming.
As the three disciples stand there, Peter
responds, but is ignored. Instead, God himself speaks from Heaven identifying
Jesus even more clearly than in Peter’s confession: “This is my Son, whom I
love. Listen to him!” Listen means more than simply, “Hear his words.” It means
also, “Follow!” So in this climax we hear again Jesus’ words earlier in the
passage, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up
their cross and follow me.”
Synthesis
There are many themes we could pick up and
respond to. I will consider one briefly, but of course there is material here
for many more studies together. The group that meets this Wednesday at 2 pm has
more than enough material for their time together. Perhaps they should bring
their supper along and meet until the club hour is over as well!
We come back to this game of “Spot the
Messiah.” There is a similar game around us today, which we might call, “Spot
the Christian.” When people think about Christians, what do they think of? What
do they think we are like? How can they tell if you are a Christian?
Here are some of my own guesses as to what
many people around us think.
- I go in to a restaurant and, before I start my meal, I bow my head and pray. You can see people spot the Christian after an athlete scores a touchdown and immediately point up to Heaven to say, “This one is for God!”
- I did a quick Google of “What are Christians like?” One of the first results was a blog by an “ex-Christian”, noting that Christians are most likely to support torturing terrorists to keep America safe. The comments beneath repeated in various forms the view that Christians are often driven by hate of people they don’t understand, and by a compulsion to make everyone else just like them.” I know that I disagree with their perspective, but when they play, “Spot the Christian”, I know what they think we look like.
- A common theme among people who think Christians look like this is that Christians are blinded by faith and unable or unwilling to use reason. We are (they tell us) irrational people who try to make other people give up their reason to be like us.
I could keep going, but that’s enough. You
can see what the rules of the game “Spot the Christian” look like. We can argue
with people if we like. We can tell them that we are driven by love, not hate,
that Christian faith is rational, not irrational, that we welcome everyone and
compel no one. We can argue all we like, but the rules of the game stay the
same.
So we take a step backwards and ask: What did
Jesus do? He did not argue with the people trying to convince them that they
had a wrong view of the Messiah. Rather, he acted in ways that drew them to
him, and then refused to fit into their rules. He changed the rules of the game
by accepting into himself the hate and bitterness and anger of the world around
him, dying on the cross. In the verses we read, we see that Jesus calls us to
follow him on the same path. People are playing a game with rules that make it
almost impossible for us to represent God faithfully (remember, God made us as
his images). Instead of arguing with them and saying how unfair their game is,
we imitate Jesus and break their rules.
How did Jesus break the rules? He refused to
claim the title that was rightfully his, and kept on doing the things that the
Messiah would do. In Mark’s account, he healed the sick and demon-possessed. He
ate with broken people, the outcasts of society—tax collectors and sinners. He performed
miracles such as calming the storm on the lake and feeding five thousand with
one person’s meal. He announced the coming of a new reality in his own person,
including overcoming death itself.
We cannot do all that he did, but we have the
model: We embrace the marginalized and the hurt of this world, even if so doing
leads to our own deaths, as we each take up our cross and follow Jesus. When
people ask, “Why are you doing this?” We respond, “I’m a Christian, but don’t
tell anyone!” Then we let them wrestle with it and keep watching us to see if
they can figure it out.
Where This May Take Us
As long as we think primarily of how our
choice to follow Jesus affects other people, we are not yet following him
fully. To put it another way, I want to change the rules of the game people
play, the game of “Spot the Christian”. But if that is what I want most, I am
not yet following Jesus. Jesus says, “Before anything else, you must take up
your cross and follow me.”
- A neighbour asserts his rights in a way that inconveniences me. I respond by seeking a path that restores our relationship, not just by getting what I want.
- The church wonders what to do if the government removes our charitable status. We respond by seeking God’s path, not ours—even if that means accepting a status we resent.
- Mennonite Church Canada struggles with our future. We accept that God’s path may involve the death of structures we have come to love.
- Our community sees graffiti going up around town. We look for ways to be God’s people in relationship with the graffiti artists.
- A friend chooses to live in a relationship we think is wrong. We look for ways to stay in relationship—being authentic about our own understanding of what is right and wrong while upholding the dignity of our friend in his/her choices.
In every case, we work together to understand what God wants
us to do. We accept the loss of personal privilege that goes with being real
community under Jesus. We accept the loss of personal rights that goes with not
fighting back against those who lash out in their distress. We accept the hurt
and anger around us, recognizing that real life come only through embracing the
cross.
When we follow this path, we enter into the pain and distress
of this world and accept it as our own. We may experience “compassion fatigue”
or “secondary PTSD” in the process: That may be what “take up your cross and
follow me” means. When we enter this path, we also receive experiences like the
transfiguration, which give us glimpses of glory on the way.
Some
Concluding Words
I must admit that I feel completely
inadequate at this point. I know what I am trying to communicate—that living in
relationship with Jesus brings us into a lifestyle that makes no sense to the
world around us and has the potential to change their understanding about God
and the whole of reality.
You see, the game of “Spot the Christian”
has become a way of pushing people away from God. Now, although following
Christ is our primary goal, nevertheless I do want to see people, the whole
world reconciled with God. I was at a conference this past week listening to
theologian Chris Wright speak on “The Mission of God.” He referred especially
to Ephesians 3:
2 Surely
you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is,
the mystery made
known to me by revelation, as I
have already written briefly. 4 In
reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which
was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This
mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of
one body, and
sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
So Wright focussed on this incredible
mystery that everyone—Jew and Gentile alike—are brought into one family to
share in “the promise of Jesus Christ.” (You can hear these lectures, “the
Downey Lectures”, here.)
I often refer to 2 Corinthians 5 in this
way:
18 All this
is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God
was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins
against them. And he
has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
God wants the whole world to live in
harmony and peace, what the Bible calls Shalom.
And God has made us part of the process by which he brings all creation into
the peace and justice that belongs to creation from the beginning.
I was interviewed by a student this week
for a class on “adult development”. She asked me, “If you had three wishes,
what would you ask for?” After some thought, I settled on that old standby,
World Peace. Can you imagine a world in which Jews and Arabs have learned to
hear and accept each other’s pain, and have brought peace to their region? Can
you imagine a world in which the marginalized of Steinbach have moved beyond
the restlessness that destroys their lives and become fully themselves, God’s
children? Can you imagine a world in which Donald Trump has learned to love
those who protest at his rallies—to love them as much as he loves himself? Or a
world in which I can also love Donald Trump, although I find his policies and
campaign style destructive. Can you imagine a world in which we can welcome
refugees without being afraid that they will make our lives harder? Can you
imagine a world in which your brother or sister, who has somehow survived a
destructive divorce, can be reconciled completely with their ex-spouse? Can you
imagine a world in which that friend who has hurt you so badly—or whom you have
cut off completely—is restored through God’s grace to full friendship?
I’m not sure I can, but I know I want to.
And I know that the only way there is the way of the cross, which Jesus has
already walked and on which he invites us to follow. The rule of the world’s
game is, “Look out for number one. Get the other guy before he gets you.” That
approach leads to the way people play “Spot the Christian.” We need to change
the rules of the game.
Prayer
(The Friday Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not
up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was
crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find
it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our
Lord. Amen.
Steinbach Mennonite Church
14 February 2016
Text
Acts 8:27-9:8
Peter Declares
That Jesus Is the Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples
went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say
John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of
the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus
warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Predicts
His Death
31 He then began to teach
them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by
the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be
killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when
Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind
the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The Way of the
Cross
34 Then he called the crowd
to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save
their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life
for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for
someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in
exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me
and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy
angels.” 9 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some
who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of
God has come with power.”
The
Transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took
Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain,
where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became
dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could
bleach them. 4 And there appeared before
them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter
said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put
up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to
say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and
covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love.
Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around,
they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
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