It's Not What You Think

Sermon for Sunday, September 13, 2009
Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Our text this morning begins with Jesus asking two questions. First: “Who do people say that I am?” And second: “Who do you say that I am?” To my knowledge, there is no other place in scripture in which Jesus is inquiring about his reputation with such curiosity. So he turns to his disciples and asks them, “What’s my reputation, guys? What are people saying about me? What’s the word on the street?”

Other people recognize that there’s something holy about Jesus. They know he’s in some sort of elite class of heroes of the faith: John the Baptist, Elijah, or perhaps one of God’s prophets. There’s something about Jesus, just as there was something about those other people, that’s special. He’s got “it”, whatever “it” is. And Peter, the spokesman for the disciples, has an idea of what the “it” factor of Jesus is. “Jesus, you are the Messiah. You are the anointed one of God. You are Christ.”

Peter may be addressing Jesus, but he’s also telling us what he knows about Jesus. “Let me tell you about my rabbi, Jesus,” Peter might say. “He is the Messiah, the anointed one of God.” And as we know, Peter is right in identifying Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one promised by scripture. But as it becomes clear in the next few verses, Jesus is not the Messiah that Peter – or anyone else – expected. This is a case of stereotyping the Messiah – of assuming the Messiah will be just as we imagined, when in reality that is not the case.

I must say that being a young pastor has its advantages. One such advantage is that it’s often entertaining to see people get thrown off by my age. Sometimes, when I meet new people and tell them that I’m a pastor, the first reaction is a shocked expression on their face. This is immediately followed by poor attempts to hide that expression, and then some question like, “Oh, so are you a youth pastor?” or “So, you’re an associate pastor?” as they try to figure out how someone like me can claim the title “pastor.” Don’t misunderstand, I wouldn’t have any problem being mistaken as a youth pastor or associate pastor – those are both great positions. But that’s not the type of ministry the Bishop and the Cabinet have appointed me to right now.

So what happens is that I do spend a lot of my time dispelling the unfair stereotypes surrounding pastors, explaining to people that I really am the senior pastor of a small church, no matter how ridiculous that may sound. And in a sense, this is kinda what’s happening between Peter and Jesus. Jesus says, “Yes Peter, you’re right, I am the Messiah. But being the Messiah means that I must undergo suffering, rejection, and death.” These words stop Peter in his tracks. “Wait just a minute, boss! I thought you said I was right – you ARE the Messiah! But suffering, rejection, death? That is NOT stuff that jives with my understanding of Messiah!”

And so Peter must come to grips with the fact that although Jesus is the Messiah, his conception of Messiah is totally off base. Jesus’ prediction of suffering at the hands of his enemies just doesn’t mesh with Peter’s Christology. Peter is thinking about a glorious, conquering Messiah, one to swoop in and save the day in the most magnificent way possible, with fireworks, parades, marching bands – everything on a grand and majestic stage!

But like a pastor who turns out to be young or a basketball player that turns out to be short, the Messiah is not who we expect. He is not what human terms would define him as. Rather, he is what the divine terms define him as. And the divine terms of salvation require suffering, rejection, and death of that Messiah, as difficult as it is for us to understand.

But when I read Mark’s words, it seems to me that this is more than Peter simply misunderstanding what the Messiah must be and do. You see, if Peter just misunderstands, then why is Jesus rebuking him? To rebuke someone means, quite literally, to order evil out of that person. Why is Jesus ordering the evil to leave Peter? Why is Peter’s misunderstanding of the Messiah so filled with evil?

It’s possible that Jesus saw a disciple before him that was being rather selfish. Peter was following the Messiah, and that was the Messiah who was supposed to come and save them. According to Peter, the Messiah comes for his own benefit, and the benefit of Peter and his friends. You see, Peter is thinking about how all this Messiah stuff affects Jesus and his followers. Meanwhile, Jesus isn’t even thinking about himself. Jesus didn’t come to show his own glory or power. Jesus didn’t come for himself. Despite how it might seem, God did not enter into our human world for God’s own sake.

The Messiah does not come for his own gain. No, the Messiah comes for others. And not even just Peter and the other disciples. Not even just us. Not even just the Christians. No, Jesus came for ALL the others. The Messiah comes to lose his life for the sake of others. And this leads us into the third stage of this morning’s scripture, where Jesus begins addressing not just the disciples but calls out to the crowds as well. While the identity and understanding of Jesus is being kept a secret throughout the gospel of Mark, these remarks about discipleship in verses 34-38 are meant for everyone to hear.

Peter is thinking about how the Messiah’s suffering will affect Peter. He is thinking about how following Jesus will help Peter. Basically, Peter is preoccupied with his own cause. This is what Jesus means when he rebukes him for thinking in “human terms” for the human tendency is to think always of oneself, to always protect oneself. But thinking on divine terms is thinking on selfless terms. Diving thinking is the thought of a God that sacrificed his only Son for a humanity that chose to turn from God. Divine thinking is the acceptance of suffering, rejection, and death – because that’s what MUST be done for the sake of humanity. Divine thinking is selfless and giving; human thinking is selfish and taking.

The disciples are thinking about their own situations, their own causes. In this teaching moment in the middle of a journey, Jesus is calling them to think of a cause greater than themselves. He is calling them to think of God’s cause: establishing his kingdom here on earth. Jesus’ death is a crucial part of that cause, and Jesus must also think of the cause that is greater than he.

You see, Jesus isn’t a solo artist. Jesus isn’t looking to make music all by himself. He isn’t looking for fame or recognition or the spotlight. And Jesus is not a prima donna wideout with a silly name like “Ochocinco” or “TO.” He doesn’t need to always get the ball and rack up the best stats. Jesus, the Messiah, is not focused on himself. He’s focused on the greater cause of which he is a part. He is a member of the kingdom band, fulfilling the role he needs to if good music is to be made. He’s a member of the kingdom team, completing the work he’s been sent to do so that the cause of winning it all may be fulfilled. Here we learn that Jesus has come not for his own glory, but the glory of the kingdom – a cause beyond himself and his followers.

And his message is clear: we are to do the same thing. The body of Christ has no room for solo artists or selfish wide receivers. The kingdom of God is not for people who intend only to think about what THEY can gain from it. The kingdom of God is for people who wish to be caught up in something greater than themselves. The kingdom of God is for those who are content with focusing on the lives of others more than their own lives. After all, that’s what Jesus did, and so far it’s been the single most important act in establishing God’s kingdom. Jesus lived a life for others and for a cause greater than himself, and that is the life we are called to live as well.

Some of you know that I love to travel. One of the things I love to do is visit churches when I go places. And when I’m in Europe, there’s nothing better than entering a gigantic cathedral. In Europe, they have cathedrals that will make you feel tiny. We’re talking huge vaulted ceilings, altars you can barely see from the back door, and the most ornate decorations. The feeling of walking into a grand cathedral is unmatched. Immediately, I am in awe of the magnificence of God. I am swept away by the feeling that God’s kingdom is about something much bigger than myself. It’s humbling, but awe-inspiring, to have that feeling of getting swept up in a cause that is much greater than yourself.

Friends, that is how following Jesus is meant to feel – getting caught up in something greater than ourselves. I’m sure many of you have seen the classic movie Casablanca, where Rick, the main character has the chance to be reunited with Ilsa, his ex-lover. He has a chance to escape to America with Ilsa and live happily ever after, but that act will hurt the allied cause in the war. His other option is to aid the allied cause, and give up the chance to ever see Ilsa again. As much as he loves Ilsa, Rick finally decides to let her and Victor Laszlo escape, aiding the greater cause rather than thinking only of his own desires. Rick allows himself to get wrapped up in a cause greater than himself.

Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to get caught up in a movement greater than ourselves. In fact, I think that we all seek a cause greater than ourselves, be it a community organization, a favorite sports team, or the community of faith. Sometimes we just need reminded of that – that we’re not here for ourselves. We’re not Christians for our own benefit. We’re not following Jesus so he will bless us, and we’re not following Jesus so our place in heaven is saved. No, we’re following Jesus because we want to be a part of something greater than ourselves. We’re following the Messiah so we can contribute to the kingdom of God yet to be established here on earth. One thing that helps me remember that is the covenant prayer in the Wesleyan tradition found in our hymnal. We’ve included a copy in each of your bulletins. Take it out. Read those words. Let them guide you. Let them remind you that you are not here for your own gain – you’re here for God’s gain. I’d encourage you to meditate on this prayer as you go home today. Put it somewhere that you’ll see it often. Use it as a reminder that we are not in it for ourselves. We are God’s, and we must be willing to let him put us where he will, suffer as he wills, exalted or laid low as he wills, full or empty as it helps advance his kingdom. We must yield ourselves to the cause of the kingdom.

So how about it? Are you ready to think on divine terms? Are you ready to let your life be lived for others rather than yourselves? Everything Jesus did was for the benefit of blessing others, and at the expense of his own comfort and enjoyment. The Messiah is leading; are you ready to follow? In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.