Finding Faith ... in why the Son of Man must die

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 3 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Feb. 24, 2021. This was the 40th digital service we performed after our church was shuttered because of the COVID pandemic.

This week's preaching text: Mark 8:31-38

31 [Jesus] 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. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 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.”

34 He 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. 35 For 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. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those 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.”

Message:

One of the earliest lessons that I was taught when I became a manager some 20 years ago

is that you always praise in public ... and address the negative issues in private.

In other words, if someone has done something praiseworthy, then compliment them in front of everyone. It sets a good example for those that are listening, and it boosts the spirits of those that you are praising.

But conversely, if someone has done something negative that needs to be addressed, then you should do it in private so as not to embarrass them or to shame them.

I think it's exactly this principle that Peter is employing in tonight's gospel when he

tries to pull Jesus aside to privately speak with him after Jesus has been addressing the crowds. And I truly believe that that Peter thinks he's doing Jesus a favor here tonight.

Something like, "Hey Jesus, whoa there partner, let's just let's just step over here and talk about what it is that is spewing from your mouth here in front of this crowd. ... You know, it's kind of radical, and you just might want to watch your p's and q's. ... In case, you know, somebody's listening."

Peter, of course, is talking about the Romans, whose empirical leaders had been ruling that land for centuries. And like any empire, the Romans didn't like anyone talking smack about them, or talking badly about them, or disputing their power in public. Or in Jesus's case thumbing his nose at their earthly ruling. Because that is exactly what Jesus is doing in tonight's gospel in our opening verses.

Jesus is not only speaking with his disciples but also to that crowd that had gathered and he's telling them all that he as God's son, the Son of Man, as he's called in the text, really must undergo great suffering. Because the rulers of the day, including their tribal elders, and the chief priests that we would see in the synagogue, and the scribes whom Jesus has called out earlier in Mark, and of course even just the appointed ruling governors of the Roman Empire.

Jesus is telling the crowd and his disciples that none of those earthly leaders can comprehend God's new kind of kingdom, a kingdom that would come to earth in the form of a lowly, mortal man. Instead of possibly some great heavenly violent force maybe led by soldiers and warriors. The kind of power that we recognize in an empire here on earth.

But, after all, this is Jesus. He's made of flesh and blood. What kind of god is that in the eyes of the world?

Peter recognizes immediately in Jesus's speech to the crowd how radical this talk is. He recognizes how incendiary Jesus's message is. And I think possibly fearing for Jesus's life, and maybe even his own safety as a follower of Jesus, he pulls Jesus aside, to uh, maybe have a little private talk with him. Maybe to remind them, you know, that people are

listening.

And that is exactly when Jesus delivers one of his most stinging rebukes in the Bible: "Get behind me, Satan!" he says to Peter. "For you are setting your mind not on the divine but on human things."

"Peter," Jesus is saying, "You are missing the point entirely! ... I was just talking about this to the crowd. Peter, you are frightened about what may happen to me for speaking out, for me calling into question the power of these earthly rulers. But it is just that that I am trying to tell you and all of these other gathered here. ... That as the son of God, I have to suffer this terrible death to prove a point here on earth."

Jesus tells Peter: "I must speak out." ... Notice the imperative there: I MUST speak out!

And I MUST suffer the consequences at the hands of earthly empires. And I MUST die because I am the Son of Man.

But, as we know from our text, Jesus just doesn't stop there. He turns back to the crowd, and he's got Peter there with him. He shares that to be his follower they will all have to do the same.

I can't imagine what flooded through the minds of that crowd at that point. Imagine standing there, in that crowd, and hearing Jesus while he looks you in the eyes and says, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Jesus isn't naïve in this instance. Jesus knows exactly what he is doing by talking to that crowd and possibly provoking the Roman governors. But Jesus also is telling each of us that's our job too. In other words, this life that Jesus is inviting all of us into isn't necessarily easy. This life that Jesus invites us into defies earthly logic. It will cause you great suffering, and all of the earthly empires that it threatens will despise you for it. ... They may even kill you for it.

But, Peter what can those earthly empires give to you in return for your life? Some riches? ... Possibly a comfortable living? ... Maybe a nice house and a car?

But, Peter, my father and I, on the other hand, offer you eternity. And this is why the Son of Man ... God's son ... must speak out. This is why God's son must suffer. And this is why God's son must die: to turn this earthly kingdom on its head.

And, Faith Family, that is the Good News this Wednesday, Feb. 24, and Sunday morning, Feb, 28, the Second Sunday in Lent. ... Amen.