| Thursday 17th Feb. Mark 8:27-33 Passion foretold Fr. Hugh introduces the Community Mass. God is a God of surprises. Our Lord asked the Apostles to describe his identity. Who do you say I am? They got it right. And then, Our Lord gives them a little more information about Himself – he would suffer and be glorified but knocked them over. But the cross is the way to glory. Christ turned out to be something much greater than they imagined. Mar 8:31-38 He began to teach them, etc. For the first announcement of the suffering of our Lord, the rebuke of Peter, and the lesson concerning the cross, and saving the soul, see notes on Mat_16:21-28. Compare Luk_9:22-27. Mar_8:38 is peculiar to Mark in this connection, though given in Mat_10:32-33, on which see notes. (PNT) Mat 16:21 - From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples. They were not strong enough to bear this teaching until they were convinced of his divinity. And suffer many things. In this strange way carrying out the true idea of the Messiah (Isa. 53). Of the elders and chief priests and scribes. The three constituents of the Sanhedrim. |
| MARK 8:31 | |||
| KJV | Vulgate | GNB | 3Greek |
| 31 And2532 he began756 to teach1321 them,846 that3754 the3588 Son5207 of man444 must1163 suffer3958 many things,4183 and2532 be rejected593 of575 the3588 elders,4245 and2532 of the chief priests,749 and2532 scribes,1122 and2532 be killed,615 and2532 after3326 three5140 days2250 rise again.450 | 1 et coepit docere illos quoniam oportet Filium hominis multa pati et reprobari a senioribus et a summis sacerdotibus et scribis et occidi et post tres dies resurgere | 31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life." | 31 και2532 ηρξατο756 διδασκειν1321 αυτους846 οτι3754 δει1163 τον3588 υιον5207 του3588 ανθρωπου444 πολλα4183 παθειν3958 και2532 αποδοκιμασθηναι593 απο575 των3588 πρεσβυτερων4245 και2532 αρχιερεων749 και2532 γραμματεων1122 και2532 αποκτανθηναι615 και2532 μετα3326 τρεις5140 ημερας2250 αναστηναι450 |
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| Caesarea Philippi Banias spring with Pan's cave on background left with temenos and niches center |
The Doctrine of the Cross.
pp.170-(R. Knox, The Gospel Story 171)
From that time onwards Jesus began to make it known to his disciples that the Son of Man must go up to Jerusalem, and there, with much ill usage, be rejected by the chief priests and elders and scribes, and be put to death, and rise again on the third day. This he told them openly; whereupon Peter, drawing him to his side, began remonstrating with him; 'Never, Lord,' he said; 'no such thing shall befall you.'
. . .
A change now comes over the gospel story; a change in direction. All roads have been leading to Caesarea Philippi; Peter's act of faith has been the objective of our Lord's instructions. He now turns his eyes towards Jerusalem; there he is to die. Peter has just confessed his belief that Jesus is God; he must remember that he is also Man. They must get all ideas of an earthly triumph right out of their heads; as man he must suffer and die. And this at the hands of the accepted leaders of Israel, not the Gentiles. Up till this, our Lord has made only veiled references to his coming death (pp. 46, 48, 74, 146); this is the first clear, express declaration. Only faith in his divinity could stand up under this severe blow. Peter is shocked at the thought of it; the Master is overwrought; he needs cheering up. Enlightened by faith, Peter was solid rock; with human reason alone, he is a mere stone by the roadside. Our Lord is stern in his rebuke; he will not be turned aside from the way of the cross; Satan proposed this same way out to him when he suggested an alliance, at the beginning of his ministry (p. 36).
Jesus now points out the way to perfection: (1) The Cross. An expressive symbol of suffering, well understood by the Jews since the Roman occupation. It will take on a new meaning after Jesus' crucifixion. (2) Follow me. Not accompany me from place to place, but live my life; it is a personal, individual relationship, so well expressed by St. Paul (Galatians 2, 19-20).
The sombre prospect of the cross raised a difficulty about the speedy coming of the kingdom, promised by John (p. 30) and Jesus (p. 62). It will not be delayed long; it will be realized in the lifetime of at least some here today. (Actually the church was well established within thirty years. See Romans 10, 18.)
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