A Love We Don't Expect

There’s just something about a surprise party. I think it has to do with the surprise part of the deal. It’s like your day is going along, maybe you’ve even forgotten that it’s your birthday. You’re just going through your day, thinking about a project you have to do after supper, and then, BAM! Out comes the cake and the noisemakers and the well-wishing friends and family. Someone’s hours of planning have paid off. Into the busy-ness and routine of your day broke the grand announcement that you are loved, that these people care about you so much that they’re willing to hide behind the couch to shower you with their love and appreciation. They have showered you with a love you didn’t expect.

In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples got something they didn’t expect. They were used to Jesus asking them questions while they traveled, and today was no different, “Who do people say that I am?” An innocent enough question. Just like a politician asking about the approval ratings, Jesus just wanted to know how the message was going over. The disciples respond favorably: “Jesus, your popularity is really growing. You’re in the ranks of the really well known figures like John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the great prophets.” But then came another question, one they didn’t expect. “But who do you say that I am?”

The message may play in Peoria, but how about on the homefront. Are you, Jesus asks, are you understanding what I’m saying? Is the message sinking in? Simon Peter spoke up, perhaps speaking on behalf of the group, “You are the Messiah.” We cheer for Peter. “Good going. You answered correct!”

But then Jesus takes the conversation in another unexpected direction. He starts talking about death. His own death. And since they were his followers, Jesus could also have been referring to their deaths as well.

The people of Israel had prayed for the coming of the Messiah for many, many years. The coming of the Messiah was to be a joyous occasion, when Israel would throw off the Roman tyranny and finally be the free state that God destined her to be. Many thought that the Messiah would be a great military leader, one who would muster a vast army to bring about God’s final victory. So why this talk about death, Jesus? Let’s focus on the victory, not your own demise. Obviously, the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about. No wonder he told them not to tell anyone. This isn’t a Messiah that the people, even the disciples, expected. The people of Israel expected the Messiah to be a figure of glory, not of suffering and self-sacrifice. No, Jesus wasn’t the Messiah that they expected.

So Peter, with the best of intentions took Jesus aside. Scripture doesn’t reveal to us the details of Peter’s conversation with Jesus, and I think that’s probably a good thing. Given Jesus’ reaction to Peter’s rebuke, it’s probably out of grace that we don’t know how miserably Peter put his foot in his mouth.

Jesus responds with strong words, much like the Letter of James speaks with strong words. Jesus wants them to understand, wants them to see the height and depth and breadth of God’s unconditional love for them, but once again, they don’t get it. God wants them to love their neighbor as themselves, but they can only think about themselves. Jesus taught them that sometimes doing what God requires can take a lot of work, but they only