Who Do You Say That I Am?
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture
Semi-continuous: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19 or Wisdom 7:26—8:1; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
Complementary: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-9; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
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Prayer
Wisdom of God, from the street corners and at the entrances to the city you proclaim the way of life and of death. Grant us the wisdom to recognize your Messiah, that following in the way of the cross, we may know the way of life and glory. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)
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Reflection
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then 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. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But 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.”
He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For 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. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those 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” (Mark 8:27-38).
After the healing of a blind man in the town of Bethsaida, Jesus asks the disciples what the rumors are about concerning his identity. Human beings love to speculate, and there was no end of speculation as to who Jesus was. Knowing that the disciples must answer that question as well, he asks them, “But who do you say that I am.” Peter responds, “You are the Messiah.” He knows the name, but has yet to learn the content of that name. When Jesus attempts to explain to the disciples what it means for him to be the Messiah, Peter, acting like Jesus’ superior begins to correct his misunderstanding in a condescending way.
Jesus now feels the need to instruct the disciples and the crowd on what true discipleship means. Jesus, the suffering servant will pave the way for salvation by his suffering and death, but those who would follow should not assume that the way of discipleship is all sweetness and light. The way of the cross is for those who would follow as well; it is a walking in the footsteps of the Master.
For those who are too ashamed to be identified with the scandalous message of Jesus way will find themselves on the receiving end of such shame when Judgment Day arrives.
PRAYER: Through suffering and rejection, O God, you bring forth our salvation, for in Jesus you embrace our humanity and transform our lives by the glory of his cross. Grant that for the sake of the gospel we may rebuke the lure of this world, take up our cross, and follow your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)
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