THE WEDNESDAY WORD

at Union AME Church, Warwick, NY

Moving Forward: Expecting Something Better

Mark 8:31-38
Rev. Raquel S. Lettsome, Ph.D.
April 1, 2015
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the
elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this
quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his
disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine
things but on human things." 34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who
want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,
will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what
can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels."
Bad things happen to good people
Our goodness does not keep every bad thing for coming our way. Being good can prevent us from
having to endure some things, but not everything. Being good may actually be the reason for some bad
things coming our way because we cannot control other peoples responses to our goodness. However,
bad things (suffering) is never the measuring stick of our Christianity, following Jesus is. Suffering is not
a sign of holiness or the litmus test for being on the right track. Our obedience is. The benefit of being a
Christian is not that we avoid suffering but that we get through it. Suffering does not have to have the
final say; we can expect something better.

CALL

MEASURE OF
DISCIPLESHIP

CONSEQUENCE

Self-denial and crossbearing

What we give up and

suffering

Passive Christianity
that never opposes
things that destroy
quality of life on earth

Following Jesus in
ministry

Obedience

Self-denial and cross

bearing when we
refuse to allow
opposition to stop us
from doing the work of
Christ in the world

Jesus prepares the disciples for what will happen to him

Rejectionloss of societal maintenance
Deathphysical loss of life

2015 Raquel S. Lettsome Ministries

Resurrectionvictory over death

Jesus commands them based on what will happen to them

Self-denial parallels Jesus rejection--To deny oneself is not a command to be more selfless or to
forsake the idolatry of self-centeredness. Change ones primary group orientation to Jesus and
his followers; make Jesus opinion the most important regardless of the cost or inconvenience
Cross-carrying parallels his deathbeing prepared to die as a result of following Jesus
Glory of his Father parallels his resurrectionhonor and true life
The suffering is not the goal or the end of the story. Look for the resurrection!

2015 Raquel S. Lettsome Ministries