Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Archives for September 15, 2006

Friday, September 15, 2006

Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)

Read Mark 8:27-38 on biblegateway.com

Verse 27Jesus 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?" Verse 28And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." Verse 29He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." Verse 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

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

“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks in our text. People give many responses, such as: my personal Lord and Savior, the baby in the manger, my moral guide, the Risen One of Easter, my friend, the Lion of Judah, rapture King, Lamb of God. Sometimes people utter Jesus’ name in a less flattering way when they’re angry. A 3-year-old may point to the pastor and say, “That’s Jesus.”

How would Jesus answer the question? Perhaps he’d say, “Look around you. I am you and you are me. You are the body of Christ. You are my hands, feet and voice. You are my heart beating with the love of God for this world. You are my lungs breathing the Spirit of life upon those you meet. You bear the cross when you see great suffering in the world and you bring it to God and plead for mercy.”

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we are not always sure who you are or who we are. But live in us so that in us, with us and through us the world may see you. Amen.

Tim Bauer Trinity Lutheran Church, Milaca, Minnesota