Day #6 - Jesus' Mission: the cross

Day 6

Jesus’ Mission: the cross

Read: Luke 9:22-27; 43-45

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The context for today’s readings is Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah (9:18-20).   Immediately following this, Jesus quickly corrects the disciples’ misconceptions of what that would mean.  Although the concept of a suffering servant king was introduced by Isaiah centuries before (53:1-12), the Jews of Jesus’ day had little idea of such a God-sent leader, especially one who would suffer.   They wanted a Messiah who would come in power to rescue them.   Jesus however knew he had to suffer and die, and from now on Luke’s account of Jesus is always in the shadow of the cross.

Jesus’ death was central to his mission.   Each writer of the Jesus’ biographies records his death in more detail than either his birth, or resurrection.  That thought, “God should die on planet earth is almost beyond comprehension” yet we cannot understand Jesus mission without the context of the cross.  

Today many people want a God who will come and rescue them, to live a “painless life”, to bless them with security and prosperity.  This passage clearly teaches that central to Jesus’ mission was suffering and pain, and that if we follow him we should not expect anything different. Follow Jesus yes - but how? Jesus made it clear with three verbs (9:23) . . . "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Ponder Point (reflect)

• Suffering is central to Jesus’ mission.

Consider (respond)

• “Would I have become a follower of Jesus had I understood; following could result in suffering and even death?”