In this sermon, Jesus teaches his disciples about the inevitable suffering He must endure, the rejection He will face from the elders, and His eventual death. He prophesies His resurrection, which will occur three days after His death. These revelations shock Peter, who rebukes Jesus for His bleak depiction of the Messiah's fate. However, Jesus corrects Peter, admonishing him for his human-centric outlook, and teaches the crowd about the path to salvation.
Jesus's declarations challenge the disciples' notion of who the Messiah is supposed to be. Peter, like other disciples, expected a Messiah who would triumphantly overthrow the Roman Empire. The prospect of a suffering, sacrificial Messiah aligned more with Isaiah's prophecy but contradicted Peter's expectations. In rebuking Peter, Jesus emphasized the need to focus on divine matters and offered insight into what it truly means to follow Him.
In the sermon, the paradoxes of Lutheran theology illuminate the paradox central to the Christian faith: To truly live, one must first die. This concept suggests that old beliefs and traditions must perish to make way for the new life promised by the Messiah. Jesus underscores this paradox by explaining that His death and resurrection are imminent and necessary aspects of His divine mission.
The sermon concludes by challenging the listener's preconceived notions of Jesus as the Messiah. Just as Peter wrestled with the reality of a suffering Messiah, many modern Christians also face struggles reconciling their personal perceptions of Jesus with the Biblical portrayal. However, understanding and accepting the true nature of Jesus as a sacrificial Savior, a suffering servant, and a resurrected Redeemer, helps individuals transition from followers with misguided ideas to true disciples.
To follow Christ authentically means to accept His path of suffering, sacrifice, and ultimate salvation. This understanding is integral to our Lenten pilgrimage, allowing us space to relinquish misguided notions and thereby connect truly with the Christ who leads us to Easter morning's celebration. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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