Jesus Predicts His Death
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The Way of the Cross
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:31-38
Amy @ themessymiddle says
I am too much like Peter. I, too, rebuked Jesus in the dark corners of my heart, thinking I knew a better way.
Liz G says
I was Peter too, and even said and wrote about that (in poetry) when I was a young woman, how we think we know so much and can do so much and laugh off or run away from anything that hurts us; but life and reality can overwhelm in the evil on this earth and the griefs and dissapointments, both our own and those whom we love and cherish. Only God is powerful enough to heal the hurts on this planet and Jesus can show us the way if we only try to keep our focus and our hope on a better, kinder and more appropriate way of loving.
Today my husband, who has been having some health problems for quite awhile (maybe overwork, stress or responsibility related) was actually thinking no church and to go in to work awhile later on, in spite of how bad he feels and how little he can take off his work load in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon anyway!
I reminded him how I pace myself and stay away from the gym (I recently joined to try to take better care of my own health) and certain stressors on this day whenever I can and take time to rest and be with my family and think he’s decided to join us after all and relax and be with our son at church and at home.
I really believe that we need to take the time to rest our spirits and be in peace and in prayer. It is our souls that need nurturing and healing so that we don’t let the cares of this world, the wars and poverty and diseases, bring us to a place where we are no longer able to care for ourselves. If we are not good for ourselves we are not going to be able to be good for anyone so my old belief I needed to help change people’s situations until I ran myself down with migraines and exhaustion is moot.
I have cared for myself at Lent every year when I take time to reflect on what is truly important, what is truly truth, what it is that I need to be for myself and so be part of the process of a better and more kinder planet. God has brought to my mind, in previous years, anything from listening to generosity to humility and this year, after taking a long time to rest and heal away from strife, it may be that I need to find a better way to live out those things in my life without being broken down by hurting people, how not to take them on myself and make it my ‘job’ but to have the faith to take them to God for healing. On this planet there are many people sick at heart or with addictions, grudges, anger and illnesses. We can only do the best we can and trust God for the rest and not take inside ourselves the hurtful or abusive words of a people in need of the knowledge of God’s love for them. God’s love can heal the hearts that don’t know they are loved and what they are in His eyes, how beautiful and real they are.
Yes we need to be humble, help out, listen, spread some happiness where we can but only God can heal hurting hearts and we are not God; so we need to also learn to rest in God’s love and trust in His promises for those we love and for ourselves.
May God bless you all at (in)courage in this Lenten season.
Heather :) :) :) says
Thanks for the Scripture and the photo today 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 😉
Katy says
A great Scripture for today–we all need a reminder of the Way of the Cross, the way of taking up our Crosses and following Jesus to gain life! Beautiful choice for today! Thank you! Blessings!
Beth Williams says
Loved the picture and always love the scriptures! InCourage is one of my websites to visit and sometimes vent. God has used this vehicle to change me and my way of thinking about life, jobs, etc.
Thank you everyone!
Blessings in this Lenten season!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂
Elizabeth Zerfoss says
If I wanted to use the photograph on the cover of our bulletin this week, who would I contact for permission and who would I list as the credit?
Thank you,
Elizabeth Zerfoss