Why did Jesus have to suffer?
When the disciples learn, in Mark’s Gospel, that Jesus will have to suffer greatly and be killed, they are astounded; Peter even begins to rebuke him. But Jesus rebukes Peter in turn, and clearly speaks of the inevitability of the cross as part of God’s other-centered plan for salvation. As the Christ, Jesus did not come to save the Jewish people from Roman power or to restore self-governance; Jesus came so that he can rise and bring his disciples from death to life. In so doing, Jesus will be fulfilling the words of the Servant Song in Isaiah: I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard. As a prophet, Jesus has already suffered a great deal for proclaiming God’s Word, yet he also gives his disciples reason to hope: whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Like the Suffering Servant, the disciples must open their ears, that they might hear, knowing that, as Psalm 116 assures us, God will incline his ear to their voice in supplication, ever there to uphold their right. Jesus needs the disciples to embrace this very different version of how salvation comes, and to participate in it, taking up their own cross and following him.
What might that cross look like? Like Jesus’ cross, it must be other-centered, grounded in faith and enriched by works: What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works? The Letter of James reminds us that any works we might do can reveal our faith, if they flow from that faith. Our works are not a ticket to heaven, but faith must somehow be lived out, and the visible manifestation of faith is works. If such works require suffering for the sake of other, so be it, for we too know that the Lord God is our help; we have but to call upon his name, that we might participate in salvation, taking up our own cross and following him.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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