Unvarnished Jesus: A Lenten JourneyEjemplo

Ash Wednesday, March 6

Mark 8:31– 38

Jesus Foretells His Death

We begin our Lenten journey with Jesus by hearing Jesus tell us that He’s not headed to greatness as the world esteems greatness, but to the cross and to death. And, like Peter, we may want to argue with Jesus and say, “Surely not!” But Jesus calls that kind of thinking, satan! And so Jesus invites us to follow Him, not in a march to greatness, but in the cross-carrying way of self-denial. This, and this alone, is the way of true discipleship. It’s also the way to life. Grasping for greatness is the way of the rat race. Walter Brueggemann says the problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat. Or as Jesus put it, what do you gain if you win it all, but lose your soul? So let’s take up our cross and follow Jesus!