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
Jesus calls Peter Satan. That sounds pretty harsh. When was the last time you called someone Satan? Jesus can be both tender and severe.
Peter was standing in the way, the way that Jesus was determined to go, to the cross. And so Peter had to step aside. The cross and resurrection are why he came and what God offers the world—unconditional mercy and hope—and nothing and nobody was going to stop him.
There's a lot of discussion in the ELCA right now about Holy Communion. When is person to receive the body and blood of Jesus? After they're baptized only? Never before?
I wonder what Jesus would say about this discussion? If someone is determined to come to the altar, to receive the body and blood, should I block the way?
If we're going to err, let's err on the side of the cross.
Prayer
God, in all matters related to Your cross, help me not to stand in the way. Amen.