Today, we continue our Lenten journey.
Last week, we heard about the rainbow covenant with Noah that encompassed every human being. This week, our focus turns to the Gospel of Mark. Our gospel lesson is Mark 8:27-38 and is a pivotal point for Mark’s story. Whereas before, Jesus’ ministry was primarily in Galilee, in chapter 8, the story begins to shift towards Jerusalem and the cross. The issue in our story is “Jesus Who?” What does it mean to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah as Peter does. Peter will find out that his preconceived notions of what that title means is contrary to who Jesus is and what his mission is. He got the words right but the meaning wrong.
For us, we toss around the name “Jesus Christ,” without thinking about it. Sometimes we even use it when we are surprised by something-like hitting our thumb with a hammer. But our lesson today makes us reflect deeply on who Jesus is for our lives and what it means to live the Christian life. For primarily, to follow Jesus means to jettison what we think is important (which usually revolves around me) and to focus on others. Jesus calls it “denying oneself.” But this is the life Jesus wants and saves us for.
