Mark 8:31–38 (NRSV)
Read Mark 8:31–38 on biblegateway.com
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."
Verse 34He 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. Verse 35For 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. Verse 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Verse 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Verse 38Those 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."
Devotion
The assigned gospel reading occurs in Mark’s Gospel immediately after Peter was the first person to say to Jesus, “You are the Messiah.”
This passage is normally known as the first “passion prediction.” Jesus says, “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.”
I don’t love the title “passion prediction.” I prefer the language that the Gospel of Mark uses: Jesus “began to teach them . . . .” In this and two other passages, Jesus was teaching the disciples what it meant for him to be the Messiah. These are “Teachings about the Crucified Messiah.” To be the Messiah means not to be served, but to serve. Not to command, but to obey. Not to kill, but to be crucified for our sake. And not to stay dead, but to be raised so that all might have life.
Prayer
Dear Crucified and Risen Lord, put to death all our self-serving desires to rule and to be served. Raise us up to new life in you. Amen.