The Way of the Cross -- February 14, 2016

Scripture focus:  Mark 8:27-9:1

John the Baptist was dead. This son of Jesus' mother's relative and close friend, only a few months older than Jesus. When Jesus began his ministry he went to John to be baptized. Some of Jesus' disciples were first John's disciples. When John was imprisoned he sent a message to Jesus asking if he was “the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). He was sitting in prison and wanted to make sure he was on the right track. Now his ministry was over. He had criticized King Herod for marrying his sister-in-law and it cost him his life.

Imagine the grief Jesus must have felt. John the Baptist, his friend, his relative, that voice crying in the wilderness, now silenced forever.

In last week's session we found Jesus looking for a chance to get alone with God for some serious prayer time after hearing the news of John's death. When crowds of people followed him to his solitary place, however, he had compassion on them. He taught them. When he realized they were hungry, he multiplied a few loaves and fish to feed them. Then he sent them away and continued on to his time of prayer. It was following that time in the presence of almighty God that he was so uplifted he could walk on water.

Now Jesus is with his disciples in Caesarea Philippi, away from the crowds in Galilee. He's about to break the news to them. He realizes that, like John the Baptist, he is on a path that will lead to death sooner rather than later.

Many times we are reluctant to see Jesus as fully human. We see him as all-knowing, fully aware of his life's path from the moment he comes to John for baptism if not before. But what if this was not the case? What if he was finding his way like the rest of us through prayer and meditation, dependent on the guidance of the Spirit of God for every decision along the way? What if it wasn't until he heard of the death of John and turned to the Father in his grief that he realized he too was headed toward a violent end?

We have been talking about the many ways Jesus didn't follow the expected pattern. His was new wine. Here he becomes even more surprising, talking about the coming end of his life instead of plans for years of successful ministry. No wonder Peter tried to persuade him to think again. Are we prepared for unexpected shifts as we follow Jesus? Will we follow him even if it means giving up the life we have planned? For most of us, our faith is unlikely to lead to directly to a physical death any time soon, but there are many other ways to die.

Slipped into this message is the promise of life on the other side of death. Does that promise make death -- physical or metaphorical -- any easier? What do you think?