mark 8:31-33 :: Jesus predicts His death (pt.1)

“so, you understand that the title of Messiah belongs to me…” says Jesus, “so now, I must tell you what that truly means…”

no illusions of power grabbing were cast, no ideas of military might were thrown around, no saber rattling or formations of the troops… to say that Jesus’ role as Messiah was contrary to what the people were expecting it to be doesn’t quite cut it. this figure who should, by the people’s reckoning, take the world stage at full stride, grab the podium and instantly lay to on the current political and social leaders of the day, claiming all things for His own, establishing a earthly kingdom that was unrivaled and invincible. attracting the adoration, and homage, of all peoples in heart, in mind and in tributes paid. the Messiah decimates His enemies, and grabs a hold of His rightful kingship expanding beyond even the territorial reign of solomon, and bringing in wealth to render solomon’s net worth as being insignificant. israel becomes the world power, and He rules on God’s behalf with their enemies under his boot, and those who love God reaping the benefits of His reign with banners blowing in the wind and an abundant harvest growing in the fields…

but when Jesus speaks of suffering and death, this image of kindgom unending and power unyielding comes crashing down…

peter is snapped out of his dreams of standing next to King Jesus, world ruler, and makes an attempt to correct Jesus’ erring line of thought. this all powerful king he had envisioned could never have this happen to him. this course of action is foolishness and the talk of a traitor…and if anyone else had been speaking these words, peter would have struck first and asked questions later.

but these words came from Jesus Himself. Jesus is the one making these claims of darkness falling, and peter’s Messiah wouldn’t fall that easily…not to those puffed up pharisees and those sell-out herodians. those were the men that would fall first under the tread of the Messiah’s iron-shod boot.

“but when Jesus turned and looked at His disciples, he rebuked peter. ‘Get behind me satan!‘ He said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'”

peter’s messiah would have definitely been impressive. he would have been a force to contend with, and an unparalleled might would flow forth from the words of his mouth giving decrees and laws to the world that lay under his subjugation. but Jesus was not peter’s messiah, but the Messiah spoken of in Scripture, untainted by the thoughts of men in their ambition.

strength unyielding? yes, enough to carry Him through torture and ridicule to death on a cross.

a reign uncontested? yes, to the point of the King of Kings going where no earthly king’s subjects would allow.

a world subdued? yes, creation itself yeilding to His desire, to the extent of death itself being held in His control.

let’s quit thinking about Jesus from our persepctive, and see just where this Messiah -above our understanding, but for us nonetheless- leads us today…