Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)
Read Mark 8:31-38 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31Then 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. Verse 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Verse 33But 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."
Verse 34He 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. Verse 35For 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. Verse 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Verse 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Verse 38Those 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."
Devotion
According to Peter’s script, Jesus was supposed to be a Rambo from the Desert, liberating the Jews from Roman rule. According to that script, Peter would be Jesus’ sergeant-at-arms. But Jesus presents a very different story for himself and Peter. Peter objects, and Jesus rebukes him with words that chill even the sturdiest disciple. Yet Jesus does not abandon Peter, that most brash and clueless of disciples. Jesus remains with him in the journey to Jerusalem and beyond. And if Jesus can stick with Peter, he can surely stick with us.
Prayer
Gracious God, you know our paths before we tread them, our wrong turns and stumblings. Be the pole star of our journey, and grant us the reassurance that you will not abandon us, even as you did not abandon your own Son, Jesus our Lord. Amen.