Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk

Mark 8:27-9:8

We have here an important series of exchanges, three episodes which flow together in such a way that they provide mutual insight. This is the beauty of Scripture, and I want to walk through them before drawing out a lesson for us. In the first episode, we have Peter’s famous confession of Jesus. Jesus has been with his disciples for some time, and he decides to pose two questions to them. First, he asks who people say that he is, to which the disciples reply with various answers of historical and prophetic significance. Of course, none of these is correct, but what people think of Jesus does not matter much at the moment. Jesus then asks who the disciples think he is, to which Peter replies, “You are the Christ” (8:29). Peter hits it right on the nose, the truth of the matter spoken plainly.
Then comes the next episode which betrays Peter’s confession, effectively losing all of the brownie points which he just earned. Since the disciples now know that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah of God, Jesus begins to explain exactly what this means. The reason that Jesus needs to provide this explanation is that there were many thoughts regarding what the Messiah would do when he came, most of them involving a military victory over Israel’s enemies. This likely was in Peter’s mind when he made his confession; so when Jesus starts to describe a suffering Messiah who would die and rise again, Peter tells him off: “Don’t speak such nonsense, Jesus. What kind of Messiah would that be? How is this sort of talk good for morale? You are the Christ, so get it right.” It is a natural reaction, given the circumstances; but Jesus rebukes Peter in turn, telling him that a suffering Messiah is the divine plan, regardless of human expectations.
The final episode takes place nearly a week later, but Mark does not record any intervening material. He intends for us to see these episodes side-by-side. Jesus, Peter, James, and John go up on a mountain for some alone time. While there, Jesus is transfigured, shown in radiant glory and supported by Elijah and Moses. As the terrified disciples stand there watching, a heavenly voice tells them, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (9:7). The statement is clear and strong, bestowing unambiguous favor upon Jesus and the things he says. In connection with the previous episode, it seems obvious that Peter ought to heed Jesus’ understanding of the Messiah and what it means for Jesus and his followers. The Christ does not conform to our expectations, and those who follow him ought to be prepared for that.
Which brings me back to the central episode, the heart of these exchanges. When Peter hears that the Christ is supposed to suffer and die, he immediately recoils at the thought. Perhaps this response is not just because it did not fit with his preconceptions but also because suffering and death are repulsive. Peter does not want anything to do with that, and neither should Jesus. Still, what Peter wants does not change the fact that Jesus speaks truly that his life would be marked by suffering and death, as would his disciples’ lives. Followers of Jesus are supposed to take up their crosses and follow him, being willing to lose their lives—their very selves—for his sake and for the sake of the Gospel (8:34-35). Of course, the reaction among Christians today too often is similar to Peter’s: they want nothing to do with suffering and death, losing themselves for the things of God. They may not shout down Jesus as Peter did, but in this day and age, choosing not to live out their faith is effectively the same. They might confess, “You are the Christ,” but if they turn and walk away from the life to which he has called them, their confession rings hollow. They missed the point, and they have not listened to Jesus. Let us be sure that we do not just confess Jesus but that we also follow after him in lives of faithfulness. -TL

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