Surrender

Jesus is on a journey to reveal the compassionate mercy of God for all. “Who do people say I am?” asks Jesus. Peter confesses he is the Anointed one, Messiah. He is the servant of the Lord, in the prophet Isaiah’s language. Jesus knows that Isaiah speaks of the servant of the Lord also as a suffering servant. This servant does not make decisions based on personal comfort, convenience, or the wellbeing of self. Jesus embodies Isaiah’s servant of the Lord and is willing to suffer for the love of God’s children.
Jesus practices God’s merciful presence no matter the consequence. Even when his compassionate welcome meets resistance from the proudly righteous, Jesus chooses to be faithful. He expects to suffer.
Peter privately resists Jesus’ new troubling teaching about his suffering, rejection, death and resurrection.
Peter’s alternate plan is an unfaithful plan. Going forward Jesus makes clear that only those willing to suffer for the love of the least, to reveal God’s mercy for all are living fully in the peace filled justice of God.
They do not live their lives avoiding pain, but surrender their pain back to God. And if his followers fail to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him without reservation, then they have no place in the movement because they cut themselves off from the wisdom of God.
This is not a loyalty test. This is wisdom. Surrender is to practice the fullness of God’s reign.
We do not grasp in fear but release ourselves to faithful love. Not that this is an easy practice, but it is the way, the truth, and the life which Jesus practiced. We do not glorify suffering or enable someone else’s greed or abuse when we can faithfully resist it. Our faith is not simplistic; but rather, the simplicity of faithful love.