Who do you say I am?
This week’s reading from the gospel according to Mark is a pivotal point in his narrative. Up until this point, Jesus has urged everyone to keep silent about his miraculous power and healing presence.
Now he asks his disciples directly, “who do you say that I am?” and when Peter makes his confession, he is told again to keep it quiet. But then, in the middle of this story, and the middle of Mark’s whole narrative, Jesus starts to speak openly about being the Christ, and what that means.
As you listen, notice what this stirs up for you. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Christ?
At the top of the page are a selection of images of Christ, each of these faces portraying something different, an emotion, a stance, an understanding, a belief, an ethnicity… the art tells a story of faith in different places at different times. We’ll be sharing stories of faith through art when we gather on Sunday, so if you can, take some time this week to reflect on what you would like to bring and share/show and tell. Art, in this instance can mean any artistic expression (poem, music, dance…)
Here’s the text if you prefer to read:
Mark 8:27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
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.”
