Getting on Board
Sometimes Jesus sounds vindictive.
Jesus began to teach his disciples 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 want to become my followers, 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 8:31-38
Mark's Gospel is short and to the point at times. He presents Jesus here as a judge who will be harsh if not respected and obeyed.
He gets angry with Peter for challenging him after explaining that he will be killed for his ministry, and then he speaks to all of them, telling them they must set their minds on things divine.
Do they understand him?
Probably not. So, he is frustrated with them, and he plainly states that they will need to make a choice. Either they are fully with him, or not.
We can go through life not fully on board with our faith. We can go through the motions and not give it a thought, following the rules and traditions without committing ourselves to a life of denial.
After all, we are not monks, right?
Is that what Jesus expects of us?
I don't think so, and I don't think this is just a rant in the heat of the moment. Jesus wants us to get it. This life is full of temptations that lead us astray, and we need to be diligent, focused, aware of the challenges and threats.
We are led to anger and hatred against our neighbors, family members and others because we allow ourselves to be swayed by those who seek to divide and polarize.
We will find ourselves at odds with others, but that doesn't mean we stop loving.
If we commit to love, all else falls in place. That is what getting on board with Christ is all about. Let go of the trappings of this world and focus on our divine connection.
What we do now reflects on who we are, and whose we are.
So, live fully in Christ and all will be well.
More to come...