We don’t like to fall behind, whether it’s keeping up with a to-do list, school assignments or loan payments. The current election is largely about how to stop the country falling behind on things like national debt and jobs. The question being asked voters is whether they are any better off than they were four years ago. Have you gotten ahead? Yet this week’s Gospel text, Mark 8:27-38, suggests that falling behind may not always be a bad thing.
It’s a pretty familiar biblical irony that immediately after his deeply perceptive confession of Jesus as the Messiah in verse 29, Peter bungles it all by rebuking His Master for talking about suffering and dying. In verse 33, Jesus’ own rebuke of Peter seems pretty harsh, “Get behind me, Satan!” From loyal, insightful disciple to devil incarnate in just four verses.
However, the overall pericopy for the day allows a slightly softer interpretation of what Jesus said to Peter. After telling him to get behind Him, Jesus’ larger message to both the crowd and His disciples is a call to follow Him even to the point of death. In other words, the place to be is just where He told Peter to get, right behind Him, following.
In verse 38, Jesus spoke directly to Peter’s motivation, warning against be ashamed of Him. Like the teenage child who previously idolized a parent, Peter grew embarrassed of Jesus as he discovered more of who He really is, a Messiah willing to accept rejection and suffering. But unlike parents who do in fact have many faults which may cause their children embarrassment, Jesus only embarrasses us with our own lack of devotion and commitment. We are reluctant to follow and embarrassed because Jesus makes us painfully aware of our own self-protective and selfish natures.
So maybe it’s time to quit thinking so much about getting ahead and be more willing to fall behind, behind Jesus as He leads into the losing sort of life which is the only way to save our lives.