Beyond Normal (David Gore • Mark 8:31-38)

The confrontation between Jesus and Peter in Mark chapter 8 serves to highlight just how far outside established expectations was the nature of Jesus’ way of being Messiah. But Jesus in no way backs off. He makes it even clearer. Jesus’ way challenges our usual way of self-preservation. Saving our own life is not the way of Jesus. Instead (somehow?!), losing our life for Jesus’ sake ends up saving it! In the end it is that clear. Seeing out your days having saved yourself and accumulated all your stuff is meaningless. It is even worse than meaningless when we become aware of how profoundly isolating that approach is. Jesus knows the way to the richest life… an eternal life. Follow him!