Pastor Tom Johnson, March 4, 2012
Jesus discloses God’s plan. He lays out before the disciples a chain of events. There will be unspeakable suffering. Community and religious leaders will abandon him and betray him. Jesus says that his death is inevitable. His resurrection is assured. He says this in plain, simple, and forthright words. Never has Jesus been so transparent and clear about the Gospel.
The main word that Jesus uses—the verb that the entire sentence is built upon—is a little, three lettered word: δει. It means, “it is necessary.” It is necessary for Jesus to suffer, die, and rise again. Or as our translation this morning says, “the Son of Man must undergo great suffering…be killed, and after three days rise again.” It is necessary for Jesus to suffer, die, and rise again.
Peter takes Jesus aside to be the first to express his difficulty with this and tells Jesus that it is not necessary. There must be another way. Jesus says that it is necessary—loud enough for everyone else to hear—and with difficult words: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” I’m sure that it wasn’t easy for Peter to hear those words of rebuke. But what Jesus says is comforting for two reasons:
First, if Satan is against this plan of suffering, death, and resurrection—than it must be a good plan! If Satan—the one whose name reminds us that he accuses and beats us down—if he wants Jesus to avoid this plan—then God’s plan must be to overcome his accusations and free us from the bondage of evil and sin. Second, if it is as Jesus suggests, that the human mind has difficulty understanding God’s purpose in his suffering, death, and resurrection, then difficulty in understanding God’s ways is normal.
Many scholars, theologians, philosophers, and thinkers have all had the same difficulty as Peter. The best and the most normal human minds are confused and struggle to understand why Jesus’ death and resurrection are necessary. Struggling with the meaning of the cross is part of the Christian journey. It can offend us. It often confounds us. But God’s purpose is to comfort us. His goal is to assure us of his grace. A few chapters later in Mark chapter 10, Jesus says that he came—not to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many (v. 45). The necessity of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection is born out of God’s love—to give his life and purchase our salvation.
Last week, Austin Smith was dropped off at his grandparents’ house. The fifteen year old’s grandfather was celebrating his 74th birthday. Austin’s grandfather, whom he calls “Papa,” discovered a leak underneath his 1991 Buick Century. The car was leaking brake fluid. Papa and his grandson put the car on blocks. Papa told him to get in the driver’s seat. And Papa got underneath the car. That was when the unthinkable happened. The car slipped off the blocks and the full weight of the 2,500 lb car was on his skull and rib cage. The 74 year old could only scream in horror and agony. Austin’s grandfather said he felt the full weight of the car pressing upon him and he knew he was gone. He knew he was about to die.
His grandson did not take time to think. He just reacted. He jumped out of the car and lifted the car off his grandfather. He lifted the car high enough for his Papa to crawl out from underneath. Remarkably, he escaped with a six inch gash across his face, a broken eye socket, four missing teeth, and broken ribs. These scars prove that the car’s weight with its six cylinder engine really was about to crush him to death. Later, Austin, who is a faithful member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Ida, Michigan said, “It happened very fast, I just reacted.” He said there’s no way he could lift that car again and does not know where that calm, cool, and collect demeanor came from (click here for story). On television, Austin demonstrated how he is unable to lift the car. Was it adrenaline? Was it a miracle? One thing’s for sure: it was necessary. In order to save his grandfathers life, he had to get that car off of him. It was love for his Papa that propelled him out of the car and love that fueled his strength.
And so it was necessary for Jesus to suffer, die, and rise again. What propels him forward toward the cross is his love. What gives him strength is his love. He knew that the weight of evil in this world, our sin, and death would crush us. Out of love’s necessity, Jesus took the weight of the world upon himself. By his wounds we are healed. By his death, death dies. By his rising again, we have eternal life. It is a miracle. It defies human understanding. It is difficult to explain. But he has the scars to prove it—on his hands, feet, and side. This is the good news of Jesus—his great love for us that necessitates he take action on our behalf.
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