In Saint Mark's Gospel, Peter had confessed his belief in Jesus as the Christ; that is, the Son of God and Savior of humankind. Peter's confession triggered what Jesus says about the necessity of his suffering and death. Learning that necessity was the hardest lesson the first disciples had to learn.

Peter

The necessity of Jesus' cross arises from his mission from God to save human life; the hostility of sinful human beings to such a mission; and Jesus' refusal to oppose violent hostility with his own force and power.

The reason for Jesus' discretion about his messiahship and his reserve about publicizing his miracles was precisely his knowledge that it was necessary that Christ suffer and die before entering into his glory. The revelation of this necessity was so unwelcome to his disciples that they hardly heard Jesus' last phrase, "and after three days rise again."

In order to prevent misleading conceptions, Jesus broadcast the necessity of self-denial, taking up our own crosses in order to follow him.

When Saint Mark wrote his gospel, he was conveying these words to the Church in Rome, which was under heavy persecution, beginning with Nero. First century Roman Christians were faced with a stark choice. They could confess Christ and be killed on the spot. Or they could deny Christ and save their lives for a while.

Christians facing persecution in the world today are faced with this same stark choice. For those Christians who enjoy freedom, the choice presents itself more subtly. What is our life about? Is it about survival, personal comfort, acquisition? Or is it about something more - for example, about love, honor and faith? They are gifts bestowed upon those who believe in them and try to live up to them.

Jesus challenges us: What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and to forfeit his life? Many scholars now prefer the old King James Version's "soul" to "life" in translation, because what is at stake is the inner core of the person, what constitutes the self.

Jesus' words about the cross remind us that we were not created simply to occupy space and time and to consume the world's resources, but rather to know God and to enjoy eternal life. Jesus is not asking me to deny myself some particular thing. Jesus says that I must deny my self. He means my self must give place to God.

The cross is the heart of the Gospel. Peter learned that self-denial and bearing of the cross are what it means to worship, love and serve God. And if we follow the way of the cross, we learn that God provides.

back to top | home