Title: The Suffering Christ
the suffering christ
sky leak
Although the synoptic gospels express it slightly differently, what they have in common is the fact that “Jesus is the Christ.” This is the moment when the identity of Jesus is explicitly revealed in the Gospels. You may not realize what this moment means. Consider the story of <Chunhyangjeon>. Lee Mong-ryong came down to Namwon in the past to take a high school exam, but he deceived his identity and looked at his circumstances. At the decisive moment, he said, “The secret word is to appear!” It revealed its identity with a sound. The statement that Jesus is the Christ is truly a leak. Who can believe that Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth, is the Christ who will save mankind? It is the work of heaven. No one can predict. It cannot be released at any time because it jeopardizes our entire lives. So, I don't know if Jesus strongly urged him not to tell that story to anyone.
Think a little more about why Jesus told his disciples to keep their mouths shut. Sometimes Jesus said, “My time is not yet.” You can understand this to mean that the time, that is, the Kairos of the Lord, has not come yet. However, in that today's text is a statement about the identity of Jesus, it must be viewed as having a different meaning. It has to do with people's misconceptions about Christ. Think about it. To correctly understand that Jesus is the Christ, we need to know what it means to be the Christ. If you think differently about Christ, saying that Jesus is the Christ means nothing. This situation at that time is explained in verse 31 and below of the main text.
candid peter
Jesus taught his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things and die, and on the third day he will rise again (verse 31). We already know this. The core of Christology is also contained here. The foundation of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ was crucified to pay for our sins.
But think about it. Is this Christ image correct? Can you understand and agree with the phrase the suffering Christ? Don't you think it's a little strange? Of course, we believe that we are saved through this event that happened to Jesus. So we take that event for granted and believe that it is the love God has given us. Jesus Christ, who suffered, was abandoned, and crucified on the cross, is the image of Christ that is imprinted in our minds. My question is not on a doctrinal level, but on a practical level. Do you really believe that the suffering of Christ is the way to salvation?
According to today's text, after hearing Jesus' explanation of the suffering statue of Christ, Peter said, "Not so." And he said he jumped. If you follow Jesus most closely, it's really pitiful why Peter doesn't know the thoughts of Jesus so much. “That’s right. That is the way to salvation for mankind. We will follow in your footsteps.” , but he had a completely different reaction. Moreover, even though Jesus spoke of the resurrection, it seems very strange to say that such a thing should not happen. So, did Peter miss the word resurrection now? Would you be surprised to hear that Jesus suffered and not hear the word resurrection that followed?
We cannot interpret Peter's response as a distinction between suffering and resurrection. This is related to a much more fundamental problem. I think Peter could not comprehend not only the resurrection but also the sufferings. For him, the sufferings of the Messiah were absurd, and the resurrection was an unrealistic world. So he jumped out that such a thing should not happen, namely, suffering and resurrection.
Gentlemen, it is not at all strange that Peter did not understand Jesus' words about suffering and resurrection. The disciples, centered on Peter, often did not understand Jesus' words. In fact, basically all conversations have a communication limit. It means that true dialogue is impossible between people who have different ways of understanding the world. This is especially true in religion, as it is in other fields as well.
The other day, someone sent me a letter of advice from the Daegu Bible Academy website. He was almost neurotic because of his tithing offering. Friends around him say that he is enjoying a life of faith by giving a huge tithe of what he sees. When I see such friends, I am afraid that those who cannot pay tithing will go to hell. In a previous consultation, I once advised him to lead a comfortable life of faith because helping the elders in difficult households is the priority, even if he cannot give tithing to him. Still, this man couldn't shake his anxiety. It seems that it is difficult for other words to enter or understand the mind that has been brainwashed for a long time.
These words of Jesus about the suffering and death of Christ could not be understood not only by Peter, but also by all the Jews at that time. Of course, there are statements about the suffering Messiah in some Old Testament books, including Isaiah, but these were quoted by the early Christian community long after Jesus' events and have no direct connection with the time of Jesus' public life. For them, Christ is the victor. The person to save mankind had to be a being of great power. But you are suffering This is a nonsensical argument.
Gentlemen, we are just like Peter and the Jews of that time. We cannot tolerate that Christ suffers. It is difficult to accept these words only on a religious level. You have to think in real life and in history. Let's take an extreme example. Is it possible to say that the future of mankind lies in Afghanistan, not America? Is it possible to say that the realities of salvation come from people living in Yeongdeungpo jjokbang, not people living in Gangnam Tower Palace? In the days of Jesus, the words of the sufferings of Christ sounded similar to these words today. So, Peter has no choice but to jump. That Peter is an honest man, and he is who we are. Our standard of a happy life has already been fixed in this way.
Satan, go away.
Jesus said to Peter: “Go away, Satan. You do not think about the things of God, but only the things of men!” (verse 33) Jesus has no right or left. If I were in Jesus' position, I would say, "Yes, so that Peter doesn't feel embarrassed. Let me think about it a little more.” and I would have called But Jesus rebuked him severely. He compared Peter to Satan. Jesus is infinitely generous, but at the same time very cruel.
Today's text is briefly described, but didn't there actually be many stories between Jesus and Peter? Couldn't we have had some sort of discourse these days? Peter's argument is not terribly wrong. If something happens to the image of Jesus right now, the gospel movement we have achieved so far will be in vain. So, please don't think wrong and take good care of your body. Peter's persuasion must have had some effect on Jesus. It might be a good choice for a sister and brother-in-law to slowly proclaim the kingdom of God without quarreling with the elders, high priests, and scribes. But Peter's suggestion was a kind of temptation for Jesus. Peter's appealing words to Jesus, who was walking with his spiritual tentacles set only on God's request, were similar to those of Satan. “Go away, Satan.” Jesus dismissed Peter's opinion.
What does Jesus mean when Peter says that he does not think about God's things, but only people's things? Was he rebuking God for stopping the path of suffering and death that had already been decided? You might see it that way. However, this explanation is not so accurate in that it makes the sufferings of Christ mechanical and fatal. For Jesus, the path of suffering was not decided, but opened. Jesus may or may not go that way. He could have avoided clashes with religious leaders and lived long enough to proclaim the kingdom of God. He was able to produce many disciples while enjoying heavenly beasts like the Buddha. From Peter's point of view, this very path was more preferable. So that's what Jesus asked for.
But for Jesus, the way of suffering and the cross was God's will. It is the choice Jesus made in his own situation. It was Jesus' choice to live in perfect harmony with God's work. Peter's attempt to turn Jesus' way in the other direction was just like Satan's action. Satan, go away.
From verse 34, Mark tells us that those who want to follow Jesus must forsake themselves and take up their cross. Mark's conclusion is this: Those who are ashamed of Jesus and his words will be put to shame when “the Son of man also comes in the glory of the Father with holy angels” (verse 38). You miss the center of the word. Jesus chose suffering and went that way. However, it is not the suffering itself that is important here, but the will of Heavenly Father. Jesus accepted the path of suffering that no one expected as God's will for Christ to walk.
What is God's work for us today? It doesn't look the same for all of you, it comes in different shapes. However, if we make God's work the standard of our choices in our lives, to some degree or another, we will not be able to turn away from suffering. Jesus, the Christ, also went the path of suffering, how can we avoid it today? Amen!