Paying the Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 8: 27-35 

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.

Today's Gospel calls us not only to BELIEVE but to put our lives on the line for it, carrying our cross, whatever it may be.  We can somewhat easily say with Peter, "You are the Messiah", but even in our daily interactions with others, deny him by cow-towing to the thinking and ways of a society of values and practices drifting further and further from God. We let "human concerns" govern us. A true follower, however, is willing to sacrifice his or her life for Jesus and the gospel, and in so doing will find LIFE. If the cross is not part of our life's equation, are we truly following Jesus? Let's take some extra time today to reflect on our behavior and attitudes.  Are they in concert with the teachings of Jesus, or are we subtly slipping into an easy way of life that leaves God on the back shelf?  If Peter, thinking he was defending Jesus. was influenced by Satan, what makes us think we might be immune to his cunning ways? Stop, pray, and look in the mirror.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, keep me on the straight and narrow and do not let me be deceived by the Evil One. Amen.