Crossroads

Mark 8:27-38

To be at a crossroads…literally, it’s that point where two roads meet, but more often, we use this phrase to describe a situation in which a difficult decision must be made. Jesus’ disciples are at a crossroads in Caesarea Phillipi, Jesus asks them: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers quickly, “You are the Christ.” Doesn’t seem so difficult, does it? Well, the crossroads wasn’t the decision to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ. The crossroads is deciding what that means. Prior to Peter’s proclamation, the only other pronouncement of Jesus as God’s anointed one, in Mark, happens in the first chapter when Jesus heals a man with an “unclean spirit” who recognizes Jesus as “the holy one of God.” “The disciples, like the demons earlier, are commanded not to talk about this discovery, for their understanding of the Messiah is flawed.”[1] The tension created by this misunderstanding is intensified as Jesus’ explanation of what it means to be the Christ flies in the face of what Peter, and the other disciples are hoping for. And when Jesus explains that being the Christ puts him on a road that leads to the cross, the disciples find themselves at a crossroads.

Peter tells Jesus, “You are the Christ,” and Jesus commands him to be silent. Then Jesus explains that to be the Christ involves great suffering and rejection and persecution and death, and then in three days a resurrection. And, in contrast to the silence commanded of Peter, Mark writes that “Jesus said all this quite openly.” Jesus isn’t ashamed to talk about what it means to be the Christ but he wants to make sure that the people who make such a proclamation know what they’re talking about. Peter’s response makes clear that he and Jesus don’t see eye to eye on this matter. He takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke him. What Peter says isn’t written, but judging by how he will respond to the soldiers in the gardens on the night of Jesus’ arrest, we can assume that Peter’s understanding of what it meant to be the Christ did not involve Jesus dying. To Peter’s rebuke, Jesus offers his own, “Get behind me Satan!”

What initially seems a harsh insult begins to make more sense when we understand how important it is to Jesus that the role of Christ is not to accomplish to human desires and expectations, but to fulfil God’s desire. Hence, his rebuke to Peter continues, “You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” This rebuke also recalls Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness. I imagine that Jesus is just as tempted as Peter to hope that “God’s anointed can avoid suffering, rejection, and death; that God’s rule means power without pain, glory without humiliation.”[2] But this just isn’t the case. The road from Caesarea Phillipi leads to Jerusalem. There, Jesus will be welcomed by crowds who, setting their minds on human things, proclaim him King of kings and Lord of lords. These crowds will be silenced when the divine plan unfurls and the horrific reality of “being the Christ” is revealed.

“The invitation to follow, first extended to Peter and three others beside a sunny sea, is now redefined in the shadow of a cross. Peter and all the others must be asked again if they really want to follow Jesus.”[3] We touched briefly on this last week with the proclamation that “God is in control.” If we proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, then “we give up the right to define what Christ means.”[4] How many proclaim faith in Jesus Christ and then seek to define for themselves what that means? How many tailor their faith to fit their own comforts, beliefs, opinions, and desires? How many are willing to follow so long as the road leads where they already wanted to go? That’s not how it works. And so arises the crossroads, “Do we really want to follow a Christ we can’t control?”

Do we really want to follow Christ if it means we must deny ourselves and take up our own crosses? The temptation is great to live for our own purposes and run from any request that we sacrifice anything of our earthly well-being for the benefit of others. But Jesus is very clear on this point, “If you are going to live for yourself, don’t go about proclaiming me as the Christ.” John Calvin more or less makes this same point in the third volume of his Institutes of the Christian Religion:

“We are not our own;

therefore neither our own reason nor our will should predominate in our deliberations and actions.

We are not our own;

therefore let us not propose it as our end, to seek what may be expedient for us according to the flesh.

We are not our own;

therefore let us, as far as possible, forget ourselves and all things that are ours.

On the contrary, we are God’s;

to him, therefore, let us live and die.

We are God’s;

therefore let his wisdom and will preside in all our actions.

We are God’s;

towards him, therefore, as our only legitimate end, let every part of our lives be directed.”[5]

To simplify, the question we face at the crossroads of the Christian life is not, “how does this benefit me?” The question we face at the crossroads of the Christian life is, “how does this benefit God’s kingdom?” This seemingly simple shift in perspective transforms the way we behave in the world. Put it to the test with our upcoming RISE Against Hunger event. “What benefit is there for me to participate in this?” If I set my mind purely on human things, the answer is…not much. I’d probably be much happier just rushing home to my couch, a cold beer, a football game, and a nap. But if I set my mind on divine things and ask how my participation benefits God’s kingdom, the answer to the question transforms.

The next time you are at a crossroads, facing an important decision, try this. Maybe you are facing such a decision right now. Pay attention to the temptations to set your mind on human things and strive instead to set your mind on God. Ask yourself, “how does my decision here impact God’s kingdom?” It is a simple enough formula, but the impact will be monumental.

I was honored to receive a phone call this past week asking for prayer from a person facing a crossroads in their life. I was inspired and impressed by their bravery, in that moment, to ask for prayer and to center in on God’s purposes for them despite the fear and doubt and insecurity that I am sure they were also feeling. They were not ashamed to turn to Jesus, to put their trust in God, and to ask how God might use that moment to shape and direct their life for God’s purposes. The opposite of being “ashamed of Jesus and his words,” is being “proud to pray.” And that is my hope for all of us, whatever crossroads we face, may we always be proud to pray. Amen.

[1] Williamson, Jr., Lamar. “Mark” from Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. 152.

[2] Ibid. 153.

[3] Ibid. 154.

[4] Ibid. 153.

[5] Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Vol 3.