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
In the first half of the assigned gospel reading, 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.” In response to this (good!) news, Peter rebuked Jesus. And Jesus, in turn, rebuked Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” And then, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
So here is the central problem with the gospel: the cross. Both Jesus’ cross. And the crosses that Jesus calls us all to take up as we follow him.
Why would anyone worship a God that suffers and dies? Why would anyone follow such a God? Why? Because the Crucified Christ—and no other—is alone the true God.
Prayer
Blessed Savior, when you call us to follow you, you call us also to die to ourselves. Give us the courage to follow you every day, to carry our crosses with humility and strength. Amen.