DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS?
Reading this passage of scripture this morning we are confronted by the question of what does it mean to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior? As we consider this question, and the other questions which inevitably accompany it, let us remember something critically important: The issue of God’s acceptance of us is not part of this text.
The question of whether God has accepted us is answered by the overwhelming evidence in the N.T. God does accept us, God does want us, and God claims us as God’s very own. The fact that God came to us in Jesus Christ answers the question in a definitive way. Nonetheless, even though we have been accepted as members of the household of God, at some point and at some level our response to this good news is important. What is our response to God’s offer? How do we respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow him?
So it is that Jesus’ question to the disciples becomes a question to each of us: Who is Jesus for you? If we answer that question by saying that he is our Lord and Savior, what does that really mean in tangible terms to us? You see, the point of this passage is very actually narrow: It is about whether we accept Jesus’ specific type of Lordship in our lives.
Much of contemporary Christianity is focused on the question of whether or not God finds us acceptable. However, for the most part scripture does not concern itself with this question. In Jesus’ coming we already know God accepts us. The question scripture wants to us to answer is: What is our response to God’s invitation? Do we find Jesus acceptable?
Biblical scholars often refer to this passage as a literary hinge for Mark’s gospel. Leading up to this passage we have seen Jesus performing miracles and preaching the good news of God’s love throughout Galilee. From this passage onward in Mark, Jesus is focused on Jerusalem and the events leading up to his passion, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection. In literal terms, the narrative swings like a hinge and the focus turns toward Jerusalem and the events which are to come.
As the text makes this swing geography is important. Caesarea Philippi was located at the very northern edge of Galilee in the foothills of a mountain range. It is a mountain range which eventually leads north to Mt. Hermon in Lebanon. From this vantage point you can look south and east across the Sea of Galilee, across the rolling hills of Judea and on toward the mountains in which Jerusalem is located.
As Jesus confronted this turning point in his public ministry and set his sights on his coming passion, he wanted his disciples to clearly grasp what their commitment to follow him was going to mean to them. Contrary to Peter’s rather easy triumphal declaration that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus knew the road ahead was not going to be easy. It is for this reason that Jesus immediately followed his question to the disciples about his identity with a mini-catechetical course of instruction for discipleship in verses 31-38.
These verses revolve around references to following Jesus. In verse 33 when Jesus rebuked Peter telling him to get behind him, in the Greek it literally reads “walk behind me”. Again in verse 34 when Jesus instructed the crowds and the disciples that if they wanted to be his followers, they must “follow me”, in the Greek it is literally “walk behind me”.
These references are not figurative or ethereal, they are literal and straightforward.  Jesus’ point is inescapable: If you want to be my disciple, if you want to be a follower, then you must literally walk the walk I walk. The “walk” Jesus is about to take is a journey to Jerusalem, towards suffering and pain, it is the walk to the cross.
For us, the decision for discipleship is not just one decision, but actually several. To claim our faith, to profess our belief in Jesus is the first step. Then, we must decide whether we will actually follow Jesus (and remember following Jesus leads to Jerusalem), or whether we would prefer to be like Peter and skip the passion of Jerusalem.  The third decision we must make is whether we actually trust that the pain and suffering of Jerusalem in fact leads to the glory of the empty tomb and eternal life.
To state it differently. First, we must decide if Jesus is our Lord. Second, we must decide if Jesus is really the type of Lord we are willing to follow. Third, we must decide if we actually trust that following the path of Jesus will lead us to a new and eternal life with God.
What does it mean to actually decide for Jesus? What does it mean to pick up one’s cross, deny oneself, and follow Jesus? The answer differs for each of us depending on the circumstances and needs of our particular lives, but let me share a story which embodies the spirit and courage of being a disciple.
It was the early middle ages and sweeping across Europe there were invading hordes of barbarian warriors invading what was left of the Holy Roman Empire.  As a particular band of these Barbarians swept through a town they discovered that in a nearby monastery the monks had all fled - except for one monk who had chosen to remain.
The leader of the Barbarians marched to the monastery and kicked in its gate. One lone monk stood there in the courtyard. The warrior glared at this humble man and said, “Do you know who I am? I am he who can run you through with a sword without batting an eyelash.”
In response, the monk studied the barbarian calmly and said, “And do you know who I am? I am one who can let you run me through with a sword without batting an eyelash.”   
Such is the trust we are called to have in God’s providence! The monk’s steadfast response reflected the same calm trusting confidence in God Jesus had as he faced Pilate centuries earlier. Across the centuries, we who have sought to follow Jesus have constantly faced the temptation to reinvent the Lord. Our constant temptation is to join Peter in trying to avoid the passion of Jerusalem and jump straight to the glory of the resurrection. Straying from scripture we have often touted the decision for discipleship as some type of self-improvement course, or a method to worldly success, or a magical potion to escape the trials of this life. Discipleship is none of these of things.
Getting behind Jesus does not lead us to a life free from worry, it does not lead to riches, and it is not an escape from the suffering of this world. However, it does lead us to live a genuinely human life, it does lead us to live life in accord with God’s will for us, and it does lead us to live eternally with God in the future.
Still, this is not an easy journey. When Jesus told the disciples about his impending passion, Peter immediately took issue. He grabbed Jesus and took him away from the others and began to “rebuke” him. In doing this, Peter was trying to define what kind of Messiah Jesus was going to be. We face the same temptation.
Truly, Christian discipleship is not for the weak-willed or those looking for an easy way in life. The honest truth is that Christian discipleship runs directly counter to most of what we consider human wisdom. In Peter’s mind dying was not winning! This is why Peter objected to Jesus’ prediction of his coming passion.
In a stunning turn of events Jesus’ path to Jerusalem demonstrated that human weakness can actually be an expression of divine strength. By choosing to willingly walk to the cross Jesus teaches us that love for others, even when it costs us dearly, is preferable to our basic human instinct of apathy. Apathy about the needs of others costs us nothing - except our very lives.
The journey Jesus invites us to join him on is not an easy one. It is not easy to profess him as our Lord, human wisdom teaches us we are responsible to no one but ourselves. There are times when we are tempted to believe that God’s glory is possible without the suffering and humiliation of the cross, human wisdom teaches us never to show weakness. There are times when it takes deep-rooted commitment to trust that God can bring resurrection out of total defeat.
Let us decide that Jesus is our Lord. Let us decide that we will follow him on his terms not our own. Let us decide to trust that through any suffering or humiliation God can ultimately bring about resurrection ; our resurrection from a life of sin and death to a life of eternal glory with God.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions, let us make them. So may it be for us. Amen.

Reverend Marc V. Mason
September 13, 2009
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Travelers Rest, SC