Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)
Read Mark 8:27-38 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
“Who do people say that I am?”
I’m a husband, father, pastor, uncle, friend; a liberal, a woodworker and tool enthusiast, a sportsman and a fan of losing teams.
But who do people say that I am? What do they say about me? Do they say that I am faithful, loving, generous or kind? Do they say that I am a follower of Jesus or a child of God? Do they know that I am Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist or Catholic?
Do others know that I go to church and where? How are we known? What are we known for? When people looked at Jesus, they were confused. But Peter, blessed Peter, saw things clearly and he confessed out loud that Jesus was the Son of God. And by this confession, Peter himself is known.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we confess that you are He, the blessed Son of God and our Redeemer. Make us bold in our witness, our service and love, that we too might be known by what we profess about you. Amen.