St. Mark 8:27-38
Dearly beloved,
The gospel for today brings forth to us a message that we would
greatly benefit from, if only we were to take it to heart and apply it
to our lives. The church assembles for the 2nd Sunday in Lent, and it
ponders a mixed message. In St. Mark’s gospel, chapter 8, we are told
that Jesus feeds the four thousand. Then, the Pharisees demand a sign
from Jesus in order to test Him. Jesus simply responds to them, “no
sign shall be given to this generation.”
But, many signs had been given—even the feeding of the four thousand.
But those who hate and stand in unbelief rarely see the blessings of
Christ before their face. Then a little ways down the chapter, Jesus
asks Peter “Who do men say that I am?” This is a great moment for
Peter and for the church. Peter caught the signs that the Pharisees
could not see, for he says quite forthrightly, “You are the Christ!”
This is the great confession of the Church. On this confession stands
salvation. All who can say this with Peter shall pass through the
gates of heaven.
It’s what follows this great confession that is disturbing. Jesus
begins to teach the disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many
things, and be rejected by the elders, scribes, and chief priests, and
then be killed, and after three days rise again. Much is to be said
concerning this. First, if Jesus was teaching the disciples this
beforehand, then why were they so sad and worried when He died? Why
did they not believe reports that Jesus’ tomb was empty?
Even the Emmaus disciples say that they heard the report that the
group of women at the tomb had seen a vision of angels who stated that
Jesus was alive. Yet, their response was despondency and sadness. At
any rate, for our purposes today, let us fix our eyes on Peter once
again. Jesus teaches the disciples about His coming passion on the
cross and what does Peter do? Peter pulls Jesus aside and begins to
rebuke Him.
Suddenly Peter doesn’t look like such a great confessor of the faith.
But Peter thinks he is. Why Jesus, the Lord of the Church, God,
didn’t know how to operate effectively, according to Peter. Peter was
ready to take the lead and tell everyone how things needed to be.
Jesus dying on the cross was not in Peter’s plan. Peter thought he
knew what needed to be done for a successful and up and coming church.
Sound familiar?
How often do think you know the best way to run the church? Or you
know how a person should straighten out their spiritual problems. How
often do you pray for your will to be done instead of God’s will? When
your sinful flesh wants to wrestle control away from the Holy Spirit,
you stand with Peter and his sinfulness. The great sin that Peter
committed was that he wanted to stand in front and lead, rather than
follow.
This is evident by Jesus’ words: Jesus turns, sees his disciples, and
rebukes Peter and says, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the
side of God, but of men.” Peter wanted to lead, not follow. Peter
forgot his place and the order of things. So it is with sinful
creatures today. Jesus then tells the disciples, “If any man would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me.” This is a statement with deep implications.
If we are to be faithful Christians, then we are to follow Jesus. We
are to let the Holy Spirit lead us through God’s word. It so often
happens that we are content if we know where the Holy Spirit is
leading us and we can predict and control what comes about, but if
there are interesting twists and turns that come as a surprise, we
often don’t react so well to it. This happens in the church all the
time. You think you know how things should be. If they go according
to your thoughts, then everything is great.
This is precisely what was taking place with Peter. Peter had just
participated in the feeding of the four thousand, which was a
miraculous happening. Seven loaves of bread and a few small fish were
used to feed them. This was ministry to Peter. They had Jesus. He
ate with them, taught them, and did some miracles. Now Peter was
ready to be the great organizational leader and charge ahead. Jesus
needed to keep with the plan and His death didn’t fit into Peter’s
plan very well. But the words of Christ echo in the ears of the
church, “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me.”
“Get behind me,” says Jesus. This is the same thing that Jesus said
to Peter when He found him fishing. “Come follow me, and I will make
you fishers of men.” Holiness and life are in the following of Jesus.
Spiritual maturity comes to a person and a church when the Holy
Spirit is allowed to lead, albeit with all His twists, turns, and
surprises. If you insist on doing the leading in the church and in
your personal spiritual life, then don’t expect much good to come of
it.
We must let go of the reigns and let God lead us through His word and
sacraments. This is true for Trinity. What lies in the future for
our parish is uncertain to us. It may not be what you expect. But
you are to seek God’s will for your lives and not your own. We must
keep the proper perspective—God leads, you follow. You must commend
your entire live and being, even the life of this parish to the Lord
unconditionally. When this happens, then good things will come about.
For we know that Jesus had to go and die as it was written in the Old
Testament. Jesus had to be buried in the tomb. He had to suffer the
grips of hell in our place on the cross, and Jesus had to rise from
the dead and claim His victory if we were ever to be able to have
everlasting life. All of this is not much different from the creation
account. God took nothingness and created the world, putting it in
order. Our God is a God of order and He means it for your good.
So, how do you deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus
when the sinful flesh would rather lead? Simple. In Holy Baptism you
picked up your cross and began the journey with Jesus. What do we
deny? Our sinful flesh. How do we do it? Through repentance. Repent
of these sins and live out your baptism by clinging to Jesus. This
is, after all, why Jesus had to die, get buried and rise on the third
day. He had to wash your sins away.
And they are washed away. You kneel before the altar this day as a
baptized community. Your song “Lord, have mercy,” has been answered,
for Jesus Christ loves you with a steadfast and undying love. His
mercy rests upon you continually as you journey with Him. So gather.
Thank the living God that He lives even in our midst and that He
grants us to live in His midst. He shall lead you now, as He has in
the past and He will continue to build you up with the Gospel with all
its power, setting you free until at last He brings you to heaven to
be with Him. Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
www.frchadius.blogspot.com
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
www.trinitylowell.org
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