Lent
February 27, 2021
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
Then he began to teach them 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.’
The Greek word, epaischunomai,translated above as being ashamed of, in this case, Jesus means, they misplaced their confidence or support (“believed the big lie”)* Reading that definition had a chilling impact on me. In preparing for a Bible study, I realized that the phrase, What would Jesus do? is no longer used much anymore. In our culture, catchphrases come and go. What would Jesus do? has perhaps completed its cycle. I wonder if it lost its appeal because our society does not relate well to shaping our way of being after that of Jesus. Are people who call themselves Christians ashamed of Jesus who loves everyone, turns the other cheek, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger—a leader who teaches justice and mercy.
I love Marcus Borg’s book title, Reading the Bible Again For the First Time. (The book was good too). During this Lenten season, we might do well to read the gospels again for the first time and seek the characteristics of the One we are called to serve and emulate him in our service.
Prayer: Enable us to live in such a way that our lives reflect your love and that we never cause you to be ashamed of us. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/1870.htm
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.