Luke 9:22-24 (NIV) - “And he said, ”The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: ”Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

This past Sunday is known as Palm Sunday in the traditional Christian calendar - to bring to mind the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem as the King. The context of today’s passage begins also with a triumphal declaration by Peter after Jesus asks, “Who do the people say I am?” In a Spirit empowered moment, Peter declares that Jesus is God’s messiah - the chosen one of God. This is actually the first time in the gospel of Luke where we see this declaration by any of the disciples; hence it’s supposed to be a declarative moment, a climax, the moment where the disciples finally know who Jesus truly is and what he has come to do. We almost expect Jesus to say, “Yes! Finally you understand who I am, and now I can reveal to you the ways of the kingdom!” However, instead of Jesus promising power, authority and status in the new kingdom of Jesus to the disciples, he plainly tells them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and furthermore he must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.

We can only imagine how the disciples must have responded to Jesus - some in disbelief, some wondering if Jesus was giving one of his upside down statements - like the first shall be last; some perhaps were even rethinking their decision to follow Jesus. Unlike us who have the benefit of knowing the fuller story of the gospel and the salvific intent of the cross, the disciples were probably quite perplexed, as they were expecting to get some political benefit in following Jesus. Even in our present political climate, when someone runs for the presidency of the United States, those that support that campaign work tirelessly for the candidate with the expectation of getting some form of a position in the event they win the election. However, what Jesus was offering the disciples was not in the sharing of riches and political power, but in sharing of His suffering - for that is the honored position to those who believe and follow Jesus.

Today, may we also clearly hear Jesus’ invitation to have a seat at his table, to follow Him in his salvific work that is shown in His death and resurrection; however it is through the via dolorosa - the road of suffering.  This is the triumphal and climatic declaration that we are campaigning for - to share in Jesus’ work of salvation to the world.

Today worship with this song: At the cross: Chris Tomlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUvpBphq5og

-GK