Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Friday, March 15, 2002

Mark 8:27-33 (NRSV)

Read Mark 8:27-33 on biblegateway.com

Verse 27Jesus 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?" Verse 28And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." Verse 29He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." Verse 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Verse 31Then 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. Verse 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Verse 33But 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."

Devotion

It is uncomfortable to hear that truth-tellers will be killed. Where is God in such an act? Like Peter, our minds often operate with human logic, rather than divine sense. But Jesus assures us that God works differently from the powers of this world, that what looks like wisdom is really foolishness, and that what looks like defeat is really the beginning of a rise to splendor beyond our imaginings.

Prayer

Inexplicable Resurrected One, shatter our paradigms. Help us to expect and seek out your astonishing ability to work for good in every abysmal situation. Amen.

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