Today read Mark 8:27-10:53, which begins and ends in the words "on the road." As you read, read the son of man passages not as references solely to Jesus, but as references to the discipled community in which we live. These are my thoughs on the passage.
The discipled community will suffer for their beliefs. And here is the rub: in order to truly receive what they desperately want, they must give it up. Our reaching into the world of dreams, our desire to fulfill that which cannot be fulfilled is what brings about our suffering.
The discipled community must believe, and believing they must pray. In praying, they must know the vast separation between themselves and the one to whom they pray. they must recognize their poverty and embrace it. "You will drink the same cup that I will drink; and you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through" (Mark 10:39).
"The son of man did not come to be served. He came to serve others" (Mark 10:45).
I just love the way this discourse ends with the story of blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the road. He is the arch-type of the disciple of whom Jesus has been speaking. He has been abandoned, yet, he believes. He cries out in prayer to the one so far beyond him. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." He knows his poverty, and hoping against all hope, he abandons himself to God. "I want to see." Then that dream of fulfilling that which is impossible becomes reality. He sees and he follows, "on the road."
The marks of discipleship are these: abandonment, belief, prayer, belonging, oneness, voluntary poverty, service, and following. On the road you will find suffering. You must give up your heart's desire, abandon yourself to God, serve others, believe in the unbelievable, and follow.
"Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus. anywhere he leads me I sull surely go..." What a great connumdrum; let go of all that your heart desires, and receive from Jesus that which you truly want, and follow.
Discipleship begins and ends in following.
At least, that's my opinion!
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