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Listening to the Gospel
Mark 8:27-38
Oh, for a thousand
tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise… We have been given a
voice to speak, each one of us. What will we utter, when given
the opportunity to say what is most important to us? Will we use
our tongues wisely? The words we choose to use, will they flow
from mindless chatter we have overheard? Will they be but echoes
of “gotta see this” television drama, or commercials hawking the
latest “gotta have this” product? Will our words be more like a
political sound-bite, or the supposed wisdom of some celebrity,
or the latest utterance of a sports commentator? Will what we
say be gleaned from the weather channel, or are we listening on
a deeper level? To what are we paying attention before we speak?
We turn now to a
pivotal story in the gospel of Mark, an episode that itself
turns a corner in this telling of the good news of Jesus. It
falls half-way through this fast-paced account of those few
short years long ago in Palestine. Questions are asked, and
disciples are given the opportunity to speak. Have they been
listening? What have they been hearing? To whom are they paying
attention? These are important questions, and they are not
intended solely for a small group of men following a wise
teacher long ago. As we read this story once again, we will
pause and allow for silence between the words. Use that time to
ponder what you might say, if given the opportunity. Listen.
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?”
(after a moment of
silence, ask “What would you have answered? What are people
around you today saying about Jesus, if they are saying anything
at all?” more silence.)
And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah;
and still others, one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
(after a moment of
silence, say “Your own thoughts now – how might you have
answered? What would you say today?” more silence.)
Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”
(after a moment
of silence, ask “What does Peter’s answer mean to you? Is
Messiah or Christ just another name in your mind,
just another title? If you were to have answered as Peter did,
would that have been a leap of faith for you, or just a bunch of
words?” more silence.)
And Jesus 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.
(after a moment of
silence, say “… ‘the glories of my God and King, the triumphs
of his grace’… this doesn’t sound glorious or triumphant. ‘A
thousand tongues to sing’ praise of a redeemer who suffers and
dies, does this seem strange to you? We cheer when our O’s or
Ravens win, not when they lose. How might you have reacted to
these words?” more silence.)
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
(after a moment of
silence, ask “Would you have spoken as Peter did? Be honest.
How might you ‘rebuke’ Jesus today through things that you say?
Of course, our tongues may not speak it, but our thoughts give
us away. ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be pleasing to you, LORD, because you are my rock and my
salvation.’ Are we like Peter?” more silence.)
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.”
(after a moment of
silence, ask “If Peter, whose very name was solid as a rock,
could be an adversary to the good news, what about us? Can we
speak the right things and still get it all wrong?” more
silence.)
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.”
(after a moment of
silence, say “Please turn to #699 in the back of your hymnal,
and use our tongues to speak words of confession. As if with one
voice, shall we pray together?”)
scripture text from
the New
Revised Standard Version
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States
of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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