The First Passion Prophecy- Gospel of Mark Series:8:31-33

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

THE BIBLE: GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES.

The First Passion Prophecy- Gospel of Mark Series:8:31-33

During the remainder of 2018, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season. 

SECTION 5 JESUS FORMS HIS DISCIPLES.
In today's post, we begin Section 5: Jesus forms His disciples Mark 8:31-10.52.Let us begin as we explore chapter 8: 31-33 which is called The first Passion prophecy.

This and the following episode are the core of Mark's Gospel. Peter sees Jesus as the Messiah, but he still has not learned what kind of Messiah Jesus really is and the way He will show Himself as God's Son.  Peter and the disciples need, like the blind man, to be touched repeatedly by Jesus to see clearly.

The teaching which Jesus now begins to give to His disciples is about the kind of Messiah He will be, and is a formation  in the way He wants His disciples to follow. Until now Jesus has astonished and challenged His disciples, but in this episode and the next He begins to prepare them to imitate Him. 

The teaching of Jesus is grouped by Mark around 3 brief summaries of His future suffering and His vindication by God.  These summaries are generally known as passion prophecies, but they are just as much resurrection prophecies too.

After this first passion prophecy, just as after two later passion prophecies, it is clear that the disciples fail to grasp what Jesus says (8:32b-33). He describes Himself as one who will suffer and rejected,  as of no value by the political,religious and intellectual leaders of the people.  He will finally be put to death in disgrace, but soon rise again.

This rising again, has no impact on the disciples.  Their attention is fixed on the first part of His prophecy.  How can the lift of the Messiah of God end in failure and disgrace?

Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him.  How can Jesus expect to keep His disciples when He speaks like that!  Jesus, looking around and seeing His disciples, in return rebukes Peter.  He calls him a Satan, one who opposes the plans of God.  Peter's way of thinking is merely human.  He still needs to be formed as true disciple of Jesus.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

·      Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of          scripture?

·     Imagine that you are one of the disciples. What do you see and hear and feel. What can I      learn from this?

·      Imagine that Christ says to me what he said to Peter.  From my own experience of Jesus, what name would I give to Him?           

•     What is reading the Gospel passage with the eyes and ears of disciple mean to me?

·     How do I respond in my life when Jesus speaks to me something that I do not want to          hear? Am I fixed like the disciples on what I want or what Jesus is saying to me?

·        How do I rebuke Jesus in my life? What do you say/do? 

·       In the light of this passage, how will you respond to Jesus as a true disciple?

•  Why did Jesus rebuke Peter? Examine a time in your life when Jesus rebuked you? What impact did it have and how did you ''rise again'' from it?

·       What identity do I give to Jesus as Messiah?

·     Reflect on my relationship with Jesus and this teaching in the light of this gospel                     passage. 

·        What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (8:31-33).

·         How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally. 

·      If you were to meet a fellow parishioner who was interested in reading gospel of Mark,          what would you say to him/her about this passage?

·      If a fellow parishioner had read this passage, what might he/she say about this passage?

·   In the light of this Gospel passage what positive change will you adopt in your life and in       your spiritual life.  How will you implement these changes?