Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – January 31, 2016

mark8-29

Genesis 18:16-33; Galatians 5:13-25; Mark 8:22-30

Jesus looked at his closest friends and asked the question: “Who do people say that I am?” They gave multiple answers but then Jesus nailed them by asking, “Who do you say that I am?”

At this point Peter makes his great confession: “You are the Christ.”

He clearly states his faith. In a few moments all that will change. Peter can’t handle it when Jesus tells him that the Christ must suffer. When Peter responds that this can’t happen he is rebuked by Jesus. “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jump forward to 2016. Do you know that Jesus is asking the same question of us? “Who do you say that I am?” Identifying with Jesus in our day can bring ridicule, persecution, and even death. Thousands of Christians around the world have died because they stood for the name of Jesus. Persecution was the theme of the NALC Convocation in 2015 because standing for Jesus can be very costly.

Prayer: Lord, grant us strength and peace that we might be true to Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Thomas Corbell, Pastor of  Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church in Statesville, NC.

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