"Putting First Things First" - a Sermon on Mark 8:31-38

1. Personal Introduction

What does this passage mean in our everyday living? Well I have had cause to ponder this very question as my thoughts have intersected between my involvements of the past couple of weeks in community activities and this text. I have continually had to reflect on why I am there.

Sure I can be present as one providing a calming and harmonising influence, but when you have accepted a level of authority over these events, it can become so difficult to maintain the purpose for which I got involved. I have to step aside and have a good think and a good pray and make sure I am putting first things first. Am I just another well-meaning community minded person, or am I first and foremost a follower of Jesus. And if the latter is the answer, what does that mean in the cut and thrust of a debate between differing views.

How do we live as Jesus’ followers in the midst of dissension? How can we still maintain harmony when we’re pretty sure our opinion or action is right? What do we do when we might have been a bit too reactive or unhelpful? What happens next when someone attacks our credibility? Very difficult questions that I’m not sure I can answer adequately today; but I do know what the starting point is. If we can just get a natural indwelling sense that we live for Jesus, then we’ll get it right more often than not.

2. Peter’s Misconception

Peter had responded to Jesus’ earlier question (in 8:29): “Who do you say that I am” with … “You are the Messiah”. While this was certainly a statement of faith, we now see that Peter still had a lot to learn about what such a designation really meant, and what making such a confession would actually mean in life. For when Jesus started talking about his own future journey of rejection, suffering and death (in verse 31), Peter had the gall to rebuke Jesus over such statements. And this behaviour of disagreeing with Jesus would tend to stand in real contrast to Peter’s confession of Jesus’ ‘Messiah-ship’.

So what was in Peter’s head?
· That Jesus’ mission was all about taking control over human affairs and becoming an earthly king?
· That Jesus’ mission was purely about national expectations and the destruction of all their oppressors?
· That following Jesus would mean special kudos or status or merit for the disciples?

Jesus wanted to teach precisely the opposite, and Peter didn’t like it. Jesus wanted to say that:
· far from taking control, his mission was about transforming hearts one by one from a standpoint of humility
· far from concerns about certain national expectations, Jesus’ mission was about bringing salvation to the whole world
· far from bringing public renown or high status, Jesus’ disciples would be persecuted for their faith because they would be challenging the status quo.

There is no doubt Peter loved Jesus, but it seems that his lack of understanding badly affected his capacity to follow Jesus properly. It would have been good to be in the ascendancy for a change, on the victory side, but this missed the point that good leadership actually comes from a servant heart and a pureness of spirit.

But before we go any further, it’s time for a little good news concerning Peter. Often understanding and insight about important matters comes gradually. This whole section follows that miracle of Jesus healing the blind man (we looked at a little while ago). Remember the healing occurred in two stages, first the man saw dimly, before later (following another touch by Jesus) he was able to see clearly. When Peter came to see clearly after Jesus’ resurrection, then we know what brilliant things he achieved!

However back in the time of this text, when Peter, albeit unknowingly, wanted to counteract Jesus’ willingness to serve humanity from the place of humility and lowliness, Jesus saw this in terms of Peter siding with Satan. Wack! What a reality check! I say “You are the Messiah” and then get accused in public of being just like Satan. What gives? Well what gives is that Peter did not have his mind first and foremost on “divine things” (refer v. 33). This is not to say that we should be other-worldly or have our heads in the clouds … this means that we’ll always be looking toward God’s agenda first (and seeing from there where everything else fits in). This is not to say that everyday human life in community is not important … far from it; it just means that we have to see everyday life from God’s perspective much more so than from the commonplace cultural perspective.

Why so strong a rebuke from Jesus? To refer to someone as “Satan” means that they are acting as an opponent, or an obstruction, or completely contrary to the way that is required. Peter was actually acting like Satan himself did when tempting Jesus in the desert to take control and divert from God’s will. Jesus replied then, “Away with you Satan, for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10). There was no place for this Satan anywhere near Jesus’ ministry. To Peter, Jesus replies slightly differently though: “Get behind me Satan”! ‘Peter, you are getting in my way, fall back into line behind me, and appreciate the divine will’. Peter wanted Jesus to avoid the cross and take a safer path. If Peter had been allowed to divert Jesus in this way, then this could have subverted God’s plans in bringing an offer of salvation to all of us.

Jesus was not done with Peter like he was with Satan though, far from it – Jesus’ love and patience with Peter would allow him more chances to follow and learn. Soon, Peter would be allowed to climb a mountain with Jesus and gain a glimpse of the glory of God. There was a slightly military tinge to this picture, of Jesus ordering Peter back into line behind the leader. So Peter had to learn to accept and respond to Jesus for who he was, not for who he wanted him to be. This could be a great challenge for us too … responding to Jesus for who he really is, not for who we want him to be! This is precisely why we’re progressively working through the Gospel of Mark … to try to discover afresh who Jesus is, and what our required response is.

3. Taking up Jesus’ Cross

Following in the way of Jesus might clearly not be the easiest route, but it is the best route. This is purposeful living; this is relational living. This is giving up the desire for independence, and instead favouring interdependence. This is giving up a desire for personal control, and instead developing a faith in God and a trust in others. This is moving ourself out of the centre of our being, and letting Jesus take up residence there. This is giving up any desire for material wealth in favour of considering broader need around us. This is discovering what’s of ultimate worth. This is developing a concern for the spiritual well-being of others.

As the “cross” was a symbol of ‘suffering’, to take up Jesus’ cross is always going to bring challenges. Yet, we will be people who deal well with any difficulties and circumstances that come upon us; also accepting any consequences that come from being publicly known as a Jesus follower. Some Christians in history have actually rejoiced in their persecution because this meant that they had made a difference. At least in the church we can gather together all our circumstances and burdens and support and resource one another. Also, as Athol Gill wrote, “When we carry the cross we shall never walk alone, for we are following Jesus”.

To truly be a follower of Jesus, Peter had to get over his own views of justice, and focus on God’s view of mercy. But being peace-makers, advocates of forgiveness and reconciliation, challenging people’s desire toward revenge or holding bitterness and animosity, is often going to make us unpopular … because we are touching places that have the sorest wounds. Yet this is one of the most important factors in following Jesus.

4. Real Incarnational Mission

While we have no choice but to be involved in God’s mission in the world, because that’s the role of all Jesus followers, we have to be careful that our neighbourly and community-building endeavours don’t take us over to the extent of not being seen as salt and light anymore. This is where I’m currently at in my reflections. We can work alongside side others on mutually worthwhile enterprises, but still must stand out as people with God-defined priorities. We don’t need to smash these into the faces of others, like in one of those mad-cap coconut-cream pie fights (eg. ‘Blazing Saddles’), but our belonging to Jesus does have to be apparent nonetheless. Our motivations should continue to centre around introducing people to (our friend) Jesus. Our Christmas celebrations in the face of the world will ultimately centre on the child born to be our Saviour. So we need to step back and ask ourselves the hard questions in this area.

5. Conclusion – First Things First

If we can just get a natural sense that we live for Jesus, then we’ll get it right more often than not. We’ll be compassionate more than being judgemental. We’ll be wise decision-makers rather than being indecisive and ineffective. We’ll be helpful more than we are destructive. And when we are at our worst, like I may have been at times recently (at least on the inside), we might be cut a little slack by those around us, because generally speaking we’re good people to be with. We have some light to shine, some insight to share, some love to express – which beats the heck out of the rampant ambition, greed and violence in the hearts of so many.

Putting first things first, is to deny self and to live for Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we’re not valuable in ourselves … quite the opposite – we have found our true and full value (in God). This teaching does NOT endorse people forcibly living under oppression or in poverty or enduring abuse, but is rather a call to live out Jesus’ love and defeat such evils. We have died to serving our selfish desires, and consider that the needs of others are at least equal to our own needs.

This will play out everyday in the way we speak about other people in their absence, beginning with how we allow ourselves to think about them internally. I have found myself having to be so careful in how I express myself about people I’ve been working with, in terms of my own feelings and also the common cultural pattern of just firing away bullets and mindlessly agreeing with the negativity of others. We have to resist conversations that disparage other people. Please God help us to find helpful and healing words to lead others toward knowing the Jesus whom we seek to follow.