And Peter took [Jesus]
aside and began to rebuke him. –Mark
8:32
I have long-time friend who feels perfectly comfortable
telling me what to do. Even when I don’t
ask. Of course, my friend is also
perfectly comfortable when my response is less than appreciative. It works the other way around too. When you have a high level of trust with
someone, you can get away with prickly exchanges without destroying the
relationship. That’s a gift.
I think Peter and Jesus had that kind of relationship. Disciple and Master could be open and honest
with one another. But, the exchange in
this week’s text seems to test that relationship. The teacher rebuking the student seems
appropriate. But the student rebuking
the teacher!? And the Messiah at
that?! (In the verses immediately
preceding this text Peter confesses that he believes Jesus is the
Messiah.) That seems wildly out of
line. Still, Peter feels comfortable
telling Jesus exactly what he thinks.
Maybe it was arrogance. Maybe
foolishness. Maybe it was just the shock
of Jesus’ startling prediction that he was going to Jerusalem to die that drew
forth such cheek. But the fact of the
matter is, they had a relationship where that kind of exchange was possible.
I think this exchange between Jesus and Peter reflects the
kind of community that Jesus builds and in which he invites us to take
part. A community of grace, forgiveness
and mercy where we can be honest and open with one another. Where we can disagree and even rebuke one
another in love. Where we can be who we
are and say what we think without destroying one another.
Sadly, the church is not always that kind of place. Too often, rebuke comes with sharp, deadly
edges. Too often, the church reflects
the world where the goal is to break down those with whom we disagree, not
build them up. Too often a rebuke is an
attack meant to destroy, not an attempt to address concerns, issues and
problems in love. That is not, NOT, how
Jesus intends for us to treat one another!
Ever.
Instead, Jesus invites us to take up our cross and follow
him. Jesus stands with us in our times
of suffering, sorrow, and struggle and invites us to stand with one another in
our times suffering, sorrow and struggle.
Jesus gave his life to reconcile the world to God, and we are invited to
be ministers of that reconciliation.
Jesus rose on the third day, and invites us to live in and share his
abundant life with everyone -- no
exceptions -- to the ends of the earth.
Sometimes we, like Peter before us, need a little
rebuking. This wasn’t the last time
Peter got it wrong. Eventually he denied
even knowing Jesus. But, Jesus’ love for
his disciple was bigger than that too.
I think it was the depth of that relationship that allowed Peter to
become the rock for the church that Jesus knew he could be. Jesus
does the same for us, and that’s a gift.
The Gift. The gift that sets us
free from sin, death and the devil to be exactly who God created us to be. The
gift that sets the church - the community of faith - free to more fully reflect
the Reign of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness for all God’s children.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
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