Proper 5 (G)

Mark 8:27-9:1

²⁷ And Jesus 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?” ²⁸ And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” ³⁰ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

³¹ And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

There is much could be said about why the people think Jesus is all these different people. There is also a great deal that has been made about St Peter being Satan or just possessed by him. I still like the joke about Satan getting behind me and pushing. But I really would like to focus on the last section of this text.

Jesus is not talking about people claiming to be the Christ. Jesus is talking very clearly about those who would desire to follow him. He has some disciples, but this is addressed to the crowd. If you guys want to join these, you can just take up your own cross and follow me. You might want to make sure you are in it for the long hall. If you are ashamed of Christ, the son of man will be ashamed of you before his Father.

Now is the great turn when I get to ask have you ever been ashamed of Jesus? Have you ever not defended Christ? Have you listened to other people speak their opinions and denials of God and kept silent? Well I guess we know what is going to happen to you.

That is Correct, You are going to get forgiven. Christ died for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus was crucified for you. He who desires to save his life loses it to Christ. He who loses his life to Christ will be saved. You have been buried with Christ in Baptism and given new life.