“Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mark 8: 33).
The above is a sharp rebuke to Peter after he articulated a revelation on the question below:
“But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to Jesus in reply, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8: 29).
Peter's Confession that Jesus is the long expected Messiah was the awaited signal for Jesus to start presenting His catechesis of the Cross. This is a very difficult subject for the disciples of every age.
"He [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days." (Mark 8: 31).
The formulation above constitutes the entirety of the early apostolic teaching. Note the sentence below:
"He spoke this openly." (Mark 8: 32).
The Apostles and followers repeated these catechesis until the New Testament was composed over 50 years after the Ascension of Jesus. Origen, first and eminent Christian theologian of the 2nd century wrote that this formula of faith was enough to sustain Christianity till the 2nd Coming of Christ. It shows that the power of the Gospel is the Cross.
"Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" (Luke 24: 26 NLT).
Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ says Pope Benedict XVI.
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2: 2).
The tree of the Cross bears the fruits of eternal life. "By this Cross you shall conquer."
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