Jesus asked his disciples an important question: “Who do you say that I am?” It’s a question he asks us as well.
This is a perennial question partly because we know so little about the historical Jesus. Mark wrote the earliest gospel. It appeared sometime around the year 70, which is pretty close to Jesus’ own lifetime, but it left many questions unanswered. So, down through history people have gone on quests for the historical Jesus and written creeds to define the identity of Jesus. Is Jesus human, divine, or both? Mark doesn’t answer all of these questions, but he does invite us to join him on a journey of faith.
This morning’s reading from Mark 8 takes us to the region of Caesarea Philippi. This is another predominantly Gentile region well known for its pagan temples, including temples erected by Herod and his sons to honor the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius.
While they were traveling north, after Jesus asked his disciples who the crowds thought he was, Jesus asked them: “Who do you say that I am?” He asked this question in the shadow of temples dedicated to the worship of two Roman emperors, so he wasn’t just asking them an intellectual question about his identity. He was asking them about their allegiance. Is it Caesar or is it Jesus? If it’s Jesus, then what did this mean for them?
Peter and his colleagues probably heard this question believing that Jesus was getting ready to launch a revolt against Rome because that’s what recent messiahs had done. So, with that in mind, Peter boldly declared that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah.
We need to remember that Mark wrote his Gospel around the time of the Jewish War that ran from 66 to 70 CE, which led to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. So, while Jesus may have Rome in mind when he asked this question, he had a larger messianic vision in mind. In essence, he was asking them who is Lord? Is it Caesar or Jesus? It’s a question that he asks of us? To whom do we give our ultimate allegiance? Is it Jesus or some other claimant, whether a politician or a nation? What comes first?
Although Peter gave the right answer when he declared his belief that Jesus was the Christ, the question is, did he understand what that meant. When Peter answered Jesus’ question, he was thinking in human terms. Like many other Jews of his day, he was probably drawing on Jewish hopes that a messiah would come to restore the Davidic monarchy and an independent Israel. If that was going to happen,they would have to remove the yoke of the Romans.
After Peter made this declaration, Jesus began to define his vision of his messianic calling. Instead of leading a military revolution against the Romans, Jesus was going to suffer and die in Jerusalem, and then on the third day rise from the dead. Jesus' definition didn’t make any sense to Peter, so he rebuked Jesus for saying this. What did suffering and death have to do with being the messiah of Israel? Jesus answered Peter with a rebuke of his own, telling him: “Get behind me, Satan.”
While Jesus’ response seems rather harsh, there may be more to the story than meets the eye. Although Mark doesn’t give us a full description of Jesus’ time in the wilderness after his baptism, Matthew gives us a fuller description of the temptations faced in the wilderness. In the third temptation, Satan took Jesus on a tour of all the earthly kingdoms and promised to give them to Jesus if Jesus would bow before him in worship. In that scene, Jesus told the devil: “Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matt. 4:1-11). If we read Jesus’ response to Peter in light of Satan’s temptation, Jesus’ response might make more sense. So, perhaps, what Jesus is doing here is once again rejecting Satan’s offer of power over the kingdoms of the earth that didn’t involve his suffering and death.
So, after Jesus rebuked Peter he went on to describe what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. It’s probably not a path we would normally choose. He told his disciples: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross.” That is if they want to experience life in its fullness, they will have to give up control over their own destinies and follow the path Jesus sets before them. It’s also the path he sets before us.
While Peter envisioned Jesus leading them on a path that led to a glorious future kingdom, Jesus offered a path that involved taking up crosses rather than crowns. Unfortunately, history has shown us that Christians have been more inclined to take the path of glory over that of the cross. Ever since Constantine had his vision that invited him to conquer in the name of Christ, Christians have faced the temptation to gain earthly power to benefit ourselves, even to the detriment of others. But does this fit with Jesus’ messianic vision described here in Mark 8?
Although Jesus’ definition of what it means to be one of his followers seems rather dark, since it involves suffering and death, Jesus also offers the promise of the resurrection. In other words, death cannot hold Jesus down, for God will raise him up. That’s the Easter story. But, to get there, Jesus tells us that if we’re going to follow him, we must give up control over our destinies. If we do this, then we can experience the fullness of God’s realm.
So, what does this mean for us? I think we need to first acknowledge that being a Christian in the United States doesn’t demand much of us. Being a Christian might not be as beneficial as it once was but no one is suffering and dying in the United States because they’re Christians. There are people who complain that their religious liberties are being impinged upon by the government or other entities, but if we dive deeper into the complaints, what we discover is that these people want power to impose their religious beliefs and practices on their neighbors. I believe Jesus rejected that path. Although there are places in the world where Christians are persecuted and even killed, Jesus rejected the offer of power to impose by force his vision for humanity.
So, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus in modern America? Do we have allegiances that can conflict with each other? If those allegiances come into conflict, which one do we choose?
As we ponder these questions, there is a further question. That has to do with the way we present our faith to the world. Do we send a triumphant message of superiority or one of humility? When people know us as Christians do they know us by our love, as the old song suggests? Unfortunately, too many people have experienced exclusion and tremendous hurt from churches, that they have found to be anything but loving. In fact, they tell the pollsters that churches are filled with hypocrites. In recent years numerous scandals have rocked the churches giving fuel to these complaints. They see Christians pursue political power so they can impose their views, which are often very narrow and unloving, on others. While Jesus’ definition of his messiahship has political implications, these implications are defined by the cross. Paul told the Philippian church, which was experiencing a bit of turmoil, to follow the way of Jesus who embraced a path of humility. He told them not to look out for their own interests, but the interests of others (Phil. 2:4). That is the way of the cross.
While the promise of the resurrection awaits us, in the meantime, the path of discipleship involves taking up our crosses and following Jesus on a journey toward an unknown future.
So, if we give our allegiance fully to Jesus by taking up our crosses, we join him on his journey to Jerusalem and beyond. While the only sure thing in life, no matter how carefully we plan for tomorrow, is change, if we keep our eyes on Jesus we will reach our destination, which culminates in the realm of God. Along the way, we may find ourselves walking through dark valleys, but we needn’t be afraid as we take this journey because the Good Shepherd leads the way toward the green pastures and still waters.
While we may not always enjoy the uncertainty that comes with this journey with Jesus, UCC pastor Eric Elnes wrote that this uncertainty is actually a gift of God.
Uncertainty teaches us to let go of all concerns but the ones we truly face, giving us the courage and power to face them. In so doing, uncertainty provides the unexpected invitation to live our lives wholeheartedly. [Gifts of the Darkwood, p. 40].
The good news is that if we follow the way of Jesus, even though it brings with it a great deal of uncertainty when we take up our crosses and embrace Jesus’ vision of hope and love, then we can sing with clear consciences: “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
Preached by:
Dr. Robert D. Cornwall
Acting Supply Pastor
First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Troy, Michigan
September 15, 2024
Pentecost 17B
Tissot, James, 1836-1902. Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57497 [retrieved September 14, 2024]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Get_Thee_Behind_Me_Satan_(R%C3%A9tire-toi_Satan)_-_James_Tissot.jpg.
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