Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)
Read Mark 8:27-38 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
Do you think Peter was really that smart? Or do you think he stumbled upon the right answer despite himself? If you have ever taught confirmation classes, you know that “tween-agers” might get the right answer, but often they have no idea of the depth or complexity of their response.
In Mark Jesus doesn’t praise Peter for his “confession,” but instead launches into the sordid details of his Messianic purpose. No wonder Peter was affronted; nothing Jesus said fit his expectation. But that’s the point, right? Peter had to learn a deeper meaning to his initial response.
Aren’t we all a little like Peter? It might be best to say that our confessions of faith are equally confessions of sin. We might say the right words but fail to really believe or understand the implications of them. Perhaps we might say along with the father in Mark 9, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”
Prayer
Holy God, the mysteries of your works and ways are beyond my comprehension, but grant that I might have a belief that is rooted in your grace and goodness. Amen.
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