Mark 8:27-35 - Taking up the cross, a journey of faith

27 Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?'28 And they told him, 'John the Baptist, others Elijah, others again, one of the prophets.'29 'But you,' he asked them, 'who do you say I am?' Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.' 30 And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of man was destined to suffer grievously, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again;32 and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter tried to rebuke him.33 But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God thinks, but as human beings do.'34 He called the people and his disciples to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.35 Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.'

THE SERMON

Beloved children of God, here, in the Gospel of Mark, a passage does not only reveal Jesus’ identity but also challenges us to reconsider our own understanding of discipleship and sacrifice.

Jesus begins by asking His disciples a profound question: “Who do people say I am?” Their responses reflect the varying opinions of the crowd. Some see Him as John the Baptist, others as Elijah or one of the prophets. Each of these responses reveals an attempt to fit Jesus into familiar categories, yet none truly capture His essence.

Then, Jesus turns the question toward His disciples: “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter boldly proclaims, “You are the Christ.” In this moment, Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed one sent to save God’s people. But soon after this declaration, Jesus reveals the true nature of His mission, one that involves suffering, rejection, and death.

Peter’s response to Jesus’ prediction of suffering is one we might resonate with: a desire to protect Jesus from harm. But Jesus rebukes Peter, calling him “Satan.” This sharp response is a reminder that even our best intentions can sometimes be at odds with God’s plans.

Discipleship is not just about following Jesus when it’s convenient or when we understand the path clearly. It is a call to embrace the difficult truths of faith. Jesus invites us to take up our cross, a symbol of sacrifice and suffering, and follow Him.

Jesus presents a paradox: “Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” This statement challenges our understanding of success and fulfillment. In a world that often equates life with comfort and self-preservation, Jesus flips the script.

To lose one’s life for His sake means embracing vulnerability, surrendering our own desires, and placing others above ourselves. It means stepping into the suffering of the world and recognizing that in that suffering, there is profound grace and hope.

As we reflect on this passage, let us ask ourselves: Who do we say Jesus is in our lives? Is He merely a teacher, a moral guide, or is He the Christ, the one who calls us into a deeper relationship, one that demands our all?

And what does it mean for us to take up our crosses? Perhaps it’s in the small, everyday sacrifices we make for the sake of others, showing kindness when it’s hard, standing up for those who are marginalized, or letting go of our need to control every aspect of our lives.

In essence, Jesus invites us into a radical way of living, one that reflects His love and grace in a world that desperately needs it. Let us not shy away from the challenges of discipleship but embrace them, knowing that in losing our lives for His sake, we find the truest sense of life.

May we answer His call, taking up our crosses with courage and conviction, as we follow the one who suffered, died, and rose again for our sake.