Peter says to Jesus, ‘Lord, I’d like a word with you in private’ (see v 32).  Having earlier affirmed that Jesus is the Messiah (v 29), Peter feels the need to spell out to him what this means. In Peter’s mind, this was not a title associated with suffering and death. 

Jesus suddenly turns this private moment into a very public correction of Peter, not only before the full group of disciples but also the crowd (v 34). Suffering is an integral part of Jesus’ own destiny, and it is also an essential part of being his disciple. This is not a secret, private matter. Followers of Jesus will need to publicly acknowledge their allegiance to a suffering Messiah, and this will entail risking the same rejection and abuse (vs 34,35).

People need to know this before they take even the first step in following him. The paradox at the heart of following Jesus is this: true life, the life of the kingdom, is possible only when the old life dies (vs 35–37). This has to be worked out in full view of our contemporaries, just as the eventual rule of the Messiah will be public and visible (v 38). In fact, it will be visible even in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection (9:1).

‘“Take up thy cross,” the Saviour said, / “if thou wouldst my disciple be. / Take up thy cross with willing heart / and humbly follow after me.”’¹

Like the man no longer blind but with only partial vision, Peter and the other disciples still incompletely understood Jesus and his mission. They knew that God had in some way chosen him and gifted him. They had sensed enough about him to leave everything to follow him. They had seen him do what God alone could do. They expected greatness from him. They had seen the miracles. Yet Jesus’ true greatness still eluded them. That greatness would far eclipse his feeding of thousands, his stilling of storms or even his power over demonic forces. That greatness would be in his death, his sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world. The disciples, however, did not understand when he tried to speak about it. Peter was angry that Jesus should even entertain such thoughts. There were forces in play here that Peter could not imagine when he unwittingly emulated the tempter in the wilderness. He spoke the temptation that always haunted Jesus: the temptation to avoid the cross.

Jesus’ temptation is ours as well, the temptation to avoid our crosses. Few of us will be called upon to sacrifice our lives for Christ, but all of us are called to take up our smaller crosses. Jesus did not bear his cross for himself and nor do we take up our crosses for ourselves. We must shoulder each day what we must do for the sake of others. For each of us, this burden is different, but it always consists in giving ourselves for others, the crosses of loyalty and forgiveness, patience and self-sacrifice. Hard work alone is not a cross, not if it is for our own gain, our own wealth or status. These are of no ultimate worth if we lose ourselves in achieving them.

Jesus, Lord of the cross, willingly we deny ourselves. Once again we take up our cross, striving to follow you along the road you trod before us. Lead us home. 

¹ Charles William Everest, 1814–77