Our Path to the Cross - 40 Days of Lenten Reflection | April 22
By Stephanie Branchaud
Psalm: 118, 145
Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:16-32
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Gospel: Mark 8:31-9:1
This passage in Mark is really important during Lent as we are approaching Jesus’ death. It is about the ways that Jesus will suffer and how we may have to suffer also in order to spread the gospel and follow Him. In verse 34 Jesus says “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus commands us to take up our cross –to suffer just as He did– and do whatever it takes to spread His word. Paul sets an example for us in this way in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.” In this last portion of the passage, Paul recognizes that he has no claim over the glory of the gospel if he doesn’t do as Jesus commanded and spread the word to as many people who haven’t heard it as possible.
In the Corinthians passage, Paul sets an example of what we should be doing, while in the Mark passage Peter shows us what not to do. After Jesus predicted His death, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him”, as if Jesus is wrong. I’m sure that the thought of Jesus, his teacher, the son of God, suffering and being killed seemed impossible to Peter, but that doesn’t make him any less wrong. Jesus’ words were hard to hear, and he didn’t want to believe them. Still, he shouldn’t have let this blind him from the reality that these were Jesus’ words; therefore, the absolute truth. Prophets from Old Testament times made similar mistakes as told about in Jeremiah 23:16-32. These false prophets had no faith in the true word of God just as Peter was lacking faith in the words of Jesus. They just told people what they wanted to hear. Following Jesus is not always easy. Sometimes suffering is necessary in order to further the gospel. That’s what Jesus tells us in Mark, even if we don’t want to hear it.
Of course, Mark is not the only place where we are told to share our faith. Psalm 145 gives one example. Verses 4-7, 10-11, and 21 instruct us to tell everyone God’s awesome message. Post-resurrection this includes the gospel because Jesus is God’s word to us now (John 1:14). Hence, Jesus gives the message to us in Mark. These instructions from Jesus can often be intimidating and might make us nervous. But we can find encouragement in the word from those who have suffered in the past. Paul’s account in 1 Corinthians can be helpful, as can Psalm 118. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Don’t worry about being ridiculed, though this might be the suffering that Jesus describes in Mark. Take comfort in the fact that God is always with us.
Lent is a great time to reflect on how our lives compare to these verses. We are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and how much he suffered. It also reminds us of the importance of sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone. And we need to be willing to suffer in whatever way necessary to make it happen, because we know that Jesus already suffered and made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Don’t be discouraged– “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118: 22-24)
