God’s Word Changes Us: Pentecost 17 B Mark 8:27-38

Dr. Mark Allan Powell was the guest scholar for our most recent session of the Northern Illinois Online Bible Study (NIOBS) this past Monday.

In our discussion of how Lutherans interpret, or look for meaning, in the Bible, Dr. Powell suggested that we look for what the Bible truly intends: to sustain us for our relationship with a loving God through Jesus Christ.

I would only add that the Bible sustains this relationship by involving  us in a living and dynamic conversation that changes us. Its intent is not to change the world to bless us, but to change us to be blessings for the world.

Nowhere is this clearer than in our Gospel reading for this coming Sunday, Mark 8:27-38. Jesus asks the disciples about his public identity: “Who do people say I am?” Of course there are many opinions out there in every age. Then Jesus asks for the disciples’ personal thoughts: “Who do you say I am?”  Jesus is the kind of leader who gives room for his adult followers to think freely as adults.

Peter then makes his declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. If this were a school test, Peter would get an “A.” But this isn’t. If this were a test of faith as in correct doctrine, as in “belief that something is arguably true”, Peter would get an “A.” But it isn’t.

The story goes on as Jesus says not to tell. That’s a special feature of Mark’s Gospel. Jesus tells new followers and demons not to tell the world he is divine or a messiah. Half truths, and faith that is mere ascent to doctrine, or nothing but “belief that,” are things that deceive and betray.

The story goes even further on. Jesus says he must suffer rejection and death before he is raised from the dead. Peter goes from confession to rebuke. His faith at this point is “faith that.” His faith wants a messiah to restore Israel. His faith wants the world to bless him and people like him.

Jesus knows Peter needs to be changed.

Jesus is a Messiah of a different sort. The Bible is a book of a faith of a different sort. Faith in a Messiah like Jesus is faith that changes us—settles the question of our relationship to God in favor of a God who loves us infinitely, unconditionally, and universally, so that we may live to be blessings for the world.

Genuine, biblical faith is not “belief that,” but our faithfulness to a relationship to a faithful God.

We must read the Bible as a dynamic, living, conversation with this loving God. To be faithful in our reading of the Bible we must be open to the change that comes upon our hearts as we are freed from wanting the world to bless us, and we joyfully live to bless the world—as we accept the suffering, death, and resurrection of service.

When I read the Bible as Jesus recommends, I read to deny myself and take up my cross.