Between Sundays for Week of March 11, 2024
The moment described in today’s gospel must have been so disorienting for Peter. Just before this exchange, Peter had responded to Jesus’ question: Who do you say that I am? with his bold confession: you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus had blessed Peter, called him the “rock” on which the church would be built, and given him the keys to the kingdom. Then Jesus begins to explain to his disciples what lies ahead for him – Jerusalem, suffering, death and resurrection. We watch as Peter takes Jesus aside, apart from the others and names his most fervent plea: God forbid it. God forbid it, Lord, that what you say is coming will come to pass. God forbid that you, my dearest friend, will suffer and die. God forbid all of it!
Jesus’ response to Peter’s words comes like a gut-punch: Get behind me, Satan! It seems impossible that in one moment Jesus can bless Peter and then in the next identifies him as a demonic adversary. Yet Jesus’ words signal how very seriously he takes Peter and his desire to forbid God’s action.
To our ears, “Satan” is the most stinging part of Jesus’ response to Peter’s honesty. But what about those other words: Get behind me. What is Jesus’ meaning?
When we heard the story of Peter’s call three weeks ago, we heard how Peter and the other disciples “left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11). In scripture, the word “follow” is the word that signals a commitment to learn from and study with another. In the first century it was customary for rabbinic students to seek a master and then choose to learn from him. While Jesus is the one who chooses Peter and the other disciples (and not the other way around), once chosen, Peter and the others took the position of disciples and began following Jesus . . . following the lead of his teaching and preaching and his acts of mercy.
When Jesus says to Peter, get behind me, he is revealing that he has fixed his ministry to the way of the cross and his calling to bring God’s presence even to the bleakest places. Jesus is fixed on God’s way of love and mercy and the freedom from sin and death that lies ahead. Jesus knows the divine things that still remain a mystery for Peter. Jesus knows that the way to healing and hope follows him to the cross and though death to the victory of resurrection!
This is the journey on which Jesus is fixed and the one he calls us all to follow.
Our Facebook connection was not working on Sunday, but you can still view Sunday’s sermon (begins at 22:15) via YouTube or watch the most recent Sunday worship service on our website. From there find links to previous worship videos available on Facebook and YouTube. We’re working to resolve our Facebook connection issues before Wednesday evening.
Abby and Amy share conversation with Lee Miller, Bishop of the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA. Lee has been a previous guest on the podcast and is back to talk about the ways that the church is called to follow Jesus at this time. Listen back to Episode 126 if you want to learn more about Lee or visit the synod’s website to read more about the GRACE mindset Lee talks about in this episode.
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Ponderings
Bethlehem is gifted with wonderful musicians. In the tradition of J.S. Bach, who weekly wrote music for the musicians he had available, our most recent Sunday worship featured two pieces written or arranged for Bethlehem’s musicians by Raelynn Clare. Listen to the prelude, a setting of The Call arranged for organ and french horn, as well as the Chancel Bells piece, “Bliss in Prayer” (begins at 14:15). ‘
For the gift of music and musicians we say:
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone the Glory!
