Reflections for Lent

Mark 8:31-38 NRSV

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Denying Yourself

For the first half of my life, I considered today’s scripture the most difficult in the Bible to understand personally….and to know how to put it into practice, especially “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (vs. 34). Even breaking it down into three sections did not make it any easier. How do I deny myself? What is my cross to pick up? How can I follow you if I don’t know where you are going?

Then, in the early 90s, our church family began the Disciple Bible Study series, and I joined up, eager to learn as much as I could. Rev. Ted Walter was our study leader as we went through the New Testament. I couldn’t wait to hear Rev. Walter’s explanation of Mark 8: 34. When he did not offer one, I asked outright, “What does verse 34 mean to you, Rev. Walter?” To my disappointment, he chose not to answer my question but instead said, “It does not matter what it means to me. It only matters what it means to YOU.” I was back at square one. 

It took me a while to realize that Rev. Walter’s answer was the one I needed to hear. It opened up an entirely new and light-filled way of understanding scripture for me. I soon learned how right he was. It does not matter how someone else sees or understands scripture….it only matters how each of us sees the scripture on a personal level as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and hearts when we’re ready. 

I’m grateful this Lenten season to say Mark 8:34 is no longer difficult for me, although my understanding of it changes every day, and I expect it always will. Rev. Walter helped my eyes open in realization that the only expert in scripture interpretation is the Holy Spirit….and that’s the only opinion I need to seek daily. 

~Janis Collins~  

Dear God, thank You for the guidance through Your word which You provide if we just ask. Help us to be gentle when someone asks our opinion instead of Yours….and to remember that Your story for each of us is not the same, but uniquely Yours alone. Amen.