The kiss of Jesus

these days's studying suggests a turning element in Mark's gospel. For some time now, the disciples had been faithfully following Jesus as an incredible preacher and a magnificent healer. youngsters they don't yet comprehend him thoroughly, they have got an inkling that he need to be more than simply a good prophet. on the calming of the storm within the lake, they're awestruck and ask each and every different, "Who can this be? Even the wind and the ocean obey him."

When Jesus asks his disciples at Caesarea Philippi who they say he's (after hearing what others say of him), Peter replies of their name, "you're the Christ (Messiah)." here's the moment of fact for the disciples, a second of clarification about their hesitant guesses, and a moment of confirmation of their long suspicion that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. With Jesus' approval of Peter's answer, they at the moment are definite of Jesus' identification.

youngsters, instantly after Peter's confession, Jesus tells the disciples now not to reveal his identity to anyone. Why? as a result of despite the fact Peter's answer is appropriate, it's incomplete. They do not have in mind its implication. sure, he is the Messiah, but now not the variety they predict, who should be served and honored, however one who's "to serve and provides his existence as a ransom for many." (Mk 10:forty five)

like the leisure of Israel, the disciples dream of a political Messiah, who will liberate them from Roman occupation and triumphantly re-establish the Davidic kingdom. Jesus tells them, besides the fact that children, that "the Son of Man have to endure significantly and be rejected by way of the elders, the manager clergymen, and the scribes, and be killed, and upward thrust after three days."

This has been foretold by using the prophets from of historic. within the first studying, Isaiah tells of God's promise to ship a servant who will deliver justice and salvation to all the international locations. although, in distinction to the typical photo of a mighty deliverer, the Messiah God will send is a suffering Servant, despised, rejected and with out vigor. "I gave my again to people that beat me, my cheeks to those that plucked my beard; my face I didn't look after from buffets and spitting." And he takes upon himself the punishment it truly is due to the world.

It isn't any shock then that Peter vehemently reacts and persuades Jesus no longer to proceed to Jerusalem. In flip, Jesus rebukes Peter by asserting that he's "thinking no longer as God does, but as human beings do."

definitely, how inscrutable are the options of God, and the way diverse his approaches. St. Paul speaks of the foolishness and the scandal of the pass, which is basically is the wisdom and power of God that brings salvation. it is by way of taking the street to death that Jesus turns into the victor of lifestyles and whoever needs to be associated with him ought to go the identical way.

"Whoever wishes to return after me must deny himself, take in his move, and follow me." here we enter into the coronary heart and essence of discipleship. the way of discipleship is the manner of the pass.

indeed, the name to discipleship is daunting. but come to feel of it, the style of the cross is the only way to lifestyles. really, it is the law of existence. Nothing is achieved without sacrifice. No pain, no benefit. No pass, no crown. Man's most efficient act and deepest joy is to love. to love is to give oneself (self-denial) as a gift. It seeks the respectable of the liked even at the rate of the lover. hence, "superior love has no person than this, that one lay down his lifestyles for his chums." (Jn 15:13)

With Christ, the go becomes an instrument of salvation. without Christ, the move is with no trouble an instrument of torture and death. it is why Jesus asks us now not handiest to take in our move and follow him. He invites us to tackle his own yoke (go), in order to find rest in him. (Mt 11:29) He invites us to unite our suffering to his, so that they can bear it along with his energy.

Most of all, the cross permits us to adventure God's intimate and private love. mom Teresa of Calcutta as soon as noted, "now and then you come so close to Jesus on the pass that he can kiss you. suffering, pain, humiliation — here is the kiss of Jesus."*