Mark 8,27-35.
Immediately after restoring the sight to a blind man at Bethsaida, Jesus and his disciples left on a 25 mile journey for the villages around Caesarea Philippi, situated near the source of the river Jordan. While on the way, Jesus puts a general question to them about who the people think he is. Already in Mk. 6,14-16 Herod was given a list of possible people that Jesus could be. Elijah was expected to return before the end of the world (Mal 3,1; 4,5), as was Moses (Deut. 18,15). That could explain the phrase “one of the prophets.” The public, surprisingly, did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah. When the disciples are asked the question about his identity, Peter responds correctly on their behalf that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. It would have been prudent not to make such information public since it would be open to misinterpretation by either the Jews or Romans.
To avoid any misinterpretation or false expectation on their part, Jesus immediately informs his disciples that he must suffer and die at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, but would rise again on the third day. We are told that Jesus stated this very openly and clearly. This prediction and emphasis did not fit well with Peter’s expectations for the Messiah, so he takes Jesus aside to dissuade him from this course of action. In the presence of the disciples and for their benefit too, Jesus delivers to Peter the severest rebuke in the whole of the gospel. To be called Satan, one whose self-definition is to be opposed to God and his plans, must have been an incredible shock for Peter. A devastating rebuke! At first, it seems excessively harsh but on reflection it seems necessary, because what Peter was really trying to do was to subvert God’s saving plan – trying to remove the Cross from the equation of salvation. His thinking was purely human calculation and totally out of tune with God’s ways.
Calling the people and the disciples to him, Jesus lays down three conditions required of a faithful follower of him: he/she must deny himself/herself – forget oneself; take up one’s cross– a metaphor for giving up everything, including life; and follow him – to be loyal to him at whatever the cost.
The Christian paradox is that anyone who wants to hold on to life and avoid risk for Jesus and the good news of the gospel will suffer the loss of their true self, here and hereafter. We need to have the person we are taken from us to discover the person we can become. In dying to self, we are born to eternal life.
It is amazing how Peter who has already spent quite some time with Jesus could be so far from his values and wavelength? What do we learn from that? How do we know that our values and goals coincide with those of Jesus?
Who do you really think Jesus is? Is there evidence in your life to support your perception/answer?
How does your perception of Jesus influence your life and values?
Like Peter, do we see the cross and suffering as something to be avoided at all costs, and fail to see their saving potential?
Fr Geoff O’Grady