By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v27Then Jesus and his disciples went away to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Tell me, who do people say I am?”
v28″Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.”
v29″What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
…. v34Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If any of you want to come with me,” he told them, “you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. v35For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it. v36Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! v37There is nothing you can give to regain your life. v38If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”(Read: Mark 8.27-38)
In Caesaria Philippi, Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus predicts his passion for the first time, a proclamation Peter seeks to contradict. Jesus rebukes Peter, then sets forth the cost of being his disciples. Christ is seeking those who are willing to abandon all in pursuit of Him. Discipleship is costly. It will cost a man his life. Dietrich Boenhoffer once said: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die!” We have made the call of Christ much too easy. While salvation is free it is not cheap! It cost Christ His precious life! “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” (Boenhoffer, “Cost of Discipleship”).
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What does it mean to confess Jesus as the Messiah? For centuries, Christians have identified Jesus by titles like “Son of God” (not Apollo Quiboloy), “Christ,” “Messiah,” “The Lord.” Yet, unlike Jesus living in Roman occupied Palestine in the first century of the common era, we have no conception of – indeed, no need for – a military conqueror who arrives on the scene of early oppression, backed by a mighty army to liberate God’s people from their enemies. Even in its first-century context, however, Jesus’ identification as Messiah does not fit such traditional definitions.
God made a astounding choice to enter human life in the person of Jesus Christ. This startling choice was revealed when Jesus follows Peter’s confession by beginning to teach the disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, rejection, and death before being raised again.
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After confessing Jesus as the Messiah, then trying to circumscribe what messiahship means, Peter (and we) must be reminded that Christ’s path to exaltation must first be walked through suffering, and that our own confession is a necessary part of the journey of faith. These are requisites to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ (disciple-ship). Suffering and death, as far as Peter is concerned, should not be a part of the job description of a Messiah. Peter’s response is understandable in light of Jewish messianic expectations, which are perhaps not so very different from what we want in a Savior. We want someone who is strong and powerful, someone who will rescue us from our troubles and defeat our enemies. Too often in popular evangelism, Jesus is presented in this way — as a kind of superhero who solves every problem for us, as a guarantor of prosperity and success. Nothing could be further from what Jesus has in mind.
The disciples, and we, cannot help but take notice. While we might consider the titles “Messiah” or “Christ” to be worn out, or devoid of meaning in our time, these designations continue to remind us that we have come to know God in power and humility in the person of Jesus the Christ.
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They say that we are the only Christian nation in the Far East or even the whole of Asia. This is based on the percentage of professed Christians against the whole population of the country. Think of this, a snatcher in Quiapo was about to pull out another job when the church bell rang the Angelus. The snatcher being catholic-bred froze before he could dip his hand on the other person’s pocket and instead recited quietly the angelus! Unbelievable? Believe it, only in the Philippines! Our society cannot exist without out Christianity – even these modern times – this, I firmly believe. Even our very Constitution (which lawmakers try to change many times) will not work without the restraints of religion. Religion is necessary for a civil society. Jesus said, “If any of you want to come with me,” he told them, “you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.”
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What is Christianity without the Cross? First, it is a sect without a savior. Second, it is a creed without a cause. Jesus had some news for the disciples (and us). If they were going to follow Jesus on into Jerusalem it would mean not only his death but a certain kind of death for them as well. We call it by many names: Self-denial, sacrificial behavior, servanthood, the golden rule. Jesus explained it this way: “if anyone wants to become my follower (disciple) let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” To fully understand the power of Jesus’ words “take up thy cross” we must first examine what he is not saying. The cross is not just bearing the difficulties and pains of life. Our cross is not a cantankerous husband or nagging wife; it is not that wayward child or that arthritic hip. Folks, we all have problems. Those who are saved and unsaved. That is a part of life. When Jesus spoke of the cross, He spoke of death: dying to ourselves that we might follow Christ wherever He leads us. He is a picture of literally giving everything up for Him even our lives. Remember Jesus in the Garden saying, “not my will but thine will be done.”
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Jesus makes it crystal clear about the high cost involved in being one of his disciples and never at any time pretends that it is less than demanding. Suffering is the blood, sweat and tears of life. The cross, which is planted in the center of Christian living, is not an invitation to lead a miserable life but is a call to hope in the face of those sufferings, which are normal part of human existence. We must accept that God’s ways of doing things run contrary to our expectations. Our Lord’s teaching is for real life and real life can be very difficult.
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Peter supposes he knows more than his teacher and he is rebuked. And it is a harsh rebuke: Get behind me Satan, says Jesus. Scholars throughout history have tried to understand this. Was Satan really using Peter or was this just Jesus disciplining a disciple. We will never know for sure. But it certainly means that Peter is being told to resume his proper role as a disciple. He is to learn from the master, not to try to teach him. The books of First and Second Peter were written from the perspective of Peter’s misunderstanding to understanding. “He himself bore our sins in his body in the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness…” Peter concludes by saying, “by his wounds we have been healed (1 Peter 2:24). It is interesting that history records that Peter was crucified on a cross just as Jesus with one exception. He requested that he be crucified upside-down. He did not consider himself worthy of his master’s cross.
Peter eventually picked up his cross and followed Jesus. How about you? Or does your creed have no cause? And the question will not go away: “Who do you say that I am? How do you answer now?
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Jesus, through His direct instruction during His earthly ministry and through His apostles in the rest of the New Testament, repeatedly makes clear that there must be a cross before the crown, suffering before glory, sacrifice before reward. The heart of Christian discipleship is giving before gaining, losing before winning. It is important to understand that God has freely given us salvation. It was paid for by the cross of Christ. Along with this salvation comes discipleship. Jesus said if you are going to be His disciple, you have to bear your cross. Jesus was always very clear regarding His call, and as we read scripture, we find that the call is as clear today as it was more than 2,000 years ago. The call has not changed. The requirements for discipleship have not changed.
A Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, you have given us your Son Jesus Christ as your hope for the world, your gift of compassion to sinful humanity. We confess to you that while we easily name him Messiah, Christ, and Lord, we recoil as Peter did from the necessity of his suffering in order to work your salvation in the world. Although he calls us to carry the cross and follow him, we shrink from such ultimate expression of discipleship. Within our deepest hearts, we despair of heeding his call to redemption through suffering. For our self-centered self-protection, forgive us, we pray. Grant us the courage of our confession, that we may follow wherever Christ leads us. We stand, now and ever, in need of your protection, and under your mercy: protection and mercy made real to us in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Proper 19 Collect, BCP)**
