Consider the Word, February 25, 2021

Consider the Word, February 25, 2021
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Readings for February 28

• Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
• Psalm 22:22-30
• Romans 4:13-25
• Mark 8:31-38

 
Collect

Almighty God,

whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross,

give us faith to perceive his glory,

that being strengthened by his grace

we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 8:31-38

Jesus began to teach his disciples 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. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But 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." 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. 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. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 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."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean for us to take up our cross and follow Jesus? 
2. What does the Cross signify for us?
3. This passage seems to suggest that the mission of Jesus and his disciples is to suffer and die, but could it be that the mission is to give life? Think in terms of, for Jesus, his mission is not death, but that his faithfulness to God inevitably resulted in his death. 

 
Closing Prayer

Artist of souls,

you sculpted a people for yourself

out of the rocks of wilderness and fasting.

Help us as we take up your invitation to prayer and simplicity,

that the discipline of these forty days

may sharpen our hunger for the feast of your holy friendship,

and whet our thirst for the living water you offer

through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 8:31-38

^30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it.

^32-33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.”

^34-37 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

³⁸ “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.”

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson