He then began to teach them that the Son of Man 

must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, 

the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and, after three days, rise again. 

He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8: 31-32)
 

Mark 8: 27-35

These verses are both contradictory and perplexing. Jesus is telling the disciples what will happen to him. Peter is shocked and reacts to this teaching accordingly. 

The disciples cannot understand or relate to Jesus’ reality. Jesus hasn’t given Peter any confirmation that he had correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah. He doesn’t fully understand what Jesus means. Peter is more focused on human ways than divine ways. He had ideas about what it meant to be a messiah, which didn’t include the crucifixion of Jesus. To Peter, it was an impossibility that this should happen. Peter wanted Jesus to follow his preconceived ideas and plans, his image of a messiah. And so, Peter rebuked Jesus.

Have you considered what it means to have Jesus as your Messiah? What are your expectations of Jesus? In what ways do these expectations hinder or enhance your journey with Jesus?

Reflections by Gillian Hugo

Dear Jesus,
Thank you that you are my Messiah. 

Guide me in my ways, and help me keep my expectations 

of you based on God’s will, not mine.
Amen.

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