Bible Text: Mark 8:31-38 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
Following a service it is customary for the minister to stand and shake hands as people are leaving. On one such Sunday a man who the preacher had not seen for some time approached the minister as she shook hands with this man, the minister said, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” The man looked at her and said, “Pastor, I’m already in the army of the Lord”. The minister questioned him, “If that’s true how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?” The man whispered back, “I’m in the secret service.”
Although I would likely never tell someone they need to join the “army of the Lord” it is true that there are people we only see on the High holy days. We can bemoan the changing landscapes of our society and criticize that people just don’t seem to have their priorities straight. On this, the day of our annual meeting, no doubt we will discuss the future and the very legitimate concerns we have. But in all honesty, aside perhaps from the very early church, this is the best time to be the church. This is a time when we really and truly can practice what we preach, can live the gospel, as Jesus says in our passage this morning, take up our cross! But as it was with the disciples so it is with us, taking up our cross is not exactly what we have in mind when it comes to living out our faith.
Our passage in Mark this morning is the first of three conversations that Jesus will have about his death. We are so accustomed to the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection that we overlook just how shocking, terrifying and upsetting it must have been for the disciples. This is the most shocking thing Jesus has said to them thus far. The disciples have witnessed miracles, heard his teachings and received his mission. They have established that the hope of the Israelite people is personified in this man. They assume that he will be the one who will bring freedom from the Romans. They are beginning to put it together that this guy is the Messiah. Everything they have seen Jesus do and heard him say until this time has been impressive and brought about big hopes for the future. And then he has to go and spoil it. Jesus astonishes them by saying that he will undergo suffering and will be rejected and killed. It is the worst possible thing that Jesus could have said.
I feel for Peter because, as I’ve mentioned before, it seems that he is only expressing concern. I feel as though “rebuke” is too strong of a word. Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah but instead of encouraging this realization Jesus sternly orders the disciples present not to tell anyone. In part this is because Jesus knows that Peter represents the average observers- that what they are witnessing is the end of an era and the Roman rule will come to an end. Peter does not comprehend that Jesus represents a different kind of Messiah than was expected by the majority of the Hebrew people. For centuries, the Jewish people had asked God to provide them with a new anointed one, a new king David who would defeat the oppressors. This is why as soon as Jesus begins to explain that he will suffer and die Peter objects. Peter’s expectation of the Messiah is not for a suffering Messiah but for a conquering one. Little does he realize that what Jesus will conquer is so much more than an oppressive government.
In many ways the church needs to reflect on this passage a little more. In our minds to be successful means to be prosperous, strong and influential. That’s how our culture understands it but also how we tend to understand our church. We base the success of a church on numbers, youth, and influence in the community. The golden age of the church is no longer- but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it means we can become more as Jesus intended for the church. Dr. Douglas John Hall, a theology professor at McGill describes this as the end of Christendom. In Christendom the church was riding high. It dominated the personal, social and political lives of the north western hemisphere, particularly in Europe. There were grand cathedrals built, the church had armies to do its bidding and priests lived as kings. But also under Christendom came the crusades, the witch hunts, and residential schools. There was no need to take up a cross, no need to deny oneself anything, no need to work hard at being the church. Hall sees hope in a post-Christendom church, “Our mandate is not to judge the past so much as to let the past instruct us for the future…The Christian faith is being made free from its captivity to political, cultural, racial and (yes) religious structures to the end that it may be and become what in essence it is: salt, yeast, light.”
The reformation it many ways was an attempt to return to the theology of the cross, as members of the reformed church we must remember we have not completed the task, we are indeed reformed but also always reforming. I also have respect for Pope Frances, of late his actions have demonstrated that we need to return to a mandate of being followers of Christ, that is, disciples, by denying ourselves and taking up our cross. By living with and among those on the margins.
But be careful, taking up the cross and denying oneself does not mean a contrived kind of humility. It does not mean to suffer for sufferings sake. Following Jesus does not mean demeaning ourselves. Rather it is to do the very best we can with the talents and abilities God has given us. We are to be the body of Christ in the world- Jesus- who suffered, died and was resurrected. But as Paul says, “For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace give to us.” When Jesus says take up your cross it means to join him in this life giving not life taking mission with our various gifts. Also to deny oneself means to keep our priorities in harmony with Jesus, with those two great commandments, Love God and love your neighbour.
This is a good time to be the church. This is a good time for us to meet and reflect on the year gone by and begin to vision for the future. We are blessed to be here, you know it and I know it. Therefore what a privilege it is to take up our cross and be the body of Christ in this world at this time for this community. Amen.