Scripture: Mark 8:27–9:8
Any Chiefs fans out there this morning?
Then you many know that tonight is the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons. But it is also their sixth Super Bowl appearance in 57 seasons. That means there were some rough years in the middle there. So let me ask the question again? How many of you have been Chiefs fans through those rough years? Who remembers the Brodie Croyle era of Chiefs football? Mark Vlassic? Tyler Palko? But now, it feels like everyone is a fan. Chiefs fans have come out of the woodwork! How many of you long-timers ever get the yearning to ask this generation of Chiefs fans, “name me five Chiefs players before Travis Kelce?”
Do you know the phrase “bandwagon fan”? This is someone who loves a team or a player when they are doing well, and the whole band is on the wagon playing their praises. But as soon as the team starts to lose, they disappear. Chiefs fans have to wonder how many of this new generation are going to still cheer for these teams when they aren’t winning it all? Are these diehard fans, or are they just riding the bandwagon?
I bring up this idea not to beat up on folks or make them prove their fan loyalty, but really as more of a metaphor. I would suggest that this is kind of what is happening here in the Gospel of Mark. In today’s passage, and throughout the Gospel, there is this line that gets repeated over and over again by Jesus: “he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.” Scholars will sometimes call it the Markan Secret. Jesus regularly does something amazing, and then tells everyone to keep it a secret. Don’t tell anyone what you saw here. Of course, you understand the irony of the Markan Secret, right? Jesus warns everyone to not say a word to anyone ever about this thing that has happened…and then we are reading about this thing that happened 2,000 years later. (Somebody told.)
This is a rabbit trail, but this is why I don’t believe in too many conspiracy theories. Conspiracies are great for movie makers or authors or podcasters or politicians who want to scare you about the big baddies out there. But psychologists say that it just isn’t likely that large groups of people can keep secrets for long periods of time. That’s why the Markan Secret isn’t really a secret at all. We know what Jesus did, and how many people he healed, and even some pretty intimate details from conversations that he had with only a few people. Even though he told them to keep it secret.
There are a lot of theories out there about why Jesus said this, but let me suggest one: what I call the Tyler Palko theory. Imagine if Jesus knew that following him was not going to be an easy thing. That it would mean sacrifice, and perhaps even danger and death. Do you think he would want followers who were only committed when he did the big things, and the exciting things, and the popular things? Or do you think he’d want followers who would stick around even when Tyler Palko was your quarterback? Jesus didn’t want bandwagoners; he wanted diehard disciples. Those ready to stick it out in the good days and the hard days. Those willing to take up their cross and follow him. So he checked their hearts: “who do they say that I am…who do you say that I am?” But, when Peter proclaims that he, Jesus, is the Messiah, the miracle-worker, the amazing Son of God, the hero, Jesus tells him not to tell anyone. Because as soon as Jesus predicts that he will be rejected and arrested and killed, Peter pulls him aside and tells him he has it all wrong. Deep down, Peter was still a bandwagoner, and that wasn’t who Jesus needed spreading the news.
There’s an old country gospel song that pushes this question a little farther. It was originally written by Bobby Braddock, but has been recorded by George Jones, the Oak Ridge Boys, and more….
If they saw Him riding in, long hair flying in the wind,
Would they love Him down in Shreveport today?
If they heard He was a Jew and a Palestinian too,
Would they love Him down in Nashville today?
If they saw Him talk with ease to the junkies, whores, and thieves,
Would they love Him out in Wichita today?
Would the rich men think it funny if He said give up your money?
Would they love Him up on Wall Street today?
If He made the wine from water, gave it to their sons and daughters,
What would the folks in Salt Lake City say?
If He talked of brotherhood as he walked their neighborhoods,
Would they love Him up in Boston today?
If He said love those who use you, and forgive those who abuse you,
If He turned the other cheek, what would you say?
Would you laugh and call Him crazy, and just send Him on his way,
If Jesus came to your town today?
I think that is at least related to the question that Mark wants his hearers to ask themselves. Throughout the Gospel, there seems to be a battle going on for the hearts and minds of potential followers of Jesus. Scholar Susan Garrett highlights this theme of contention. She writes about the ongoing theme of temptation throughout the Gospel. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus is tempted in various ways by Satan. The most obvious story comes early, when Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tempted. But the language of his conversations with the religious leaders, and even his own disciples, mirrors this temptation language. Today’s passage is perhaps one of the most famous examples: after Jesus tells his disciples that he will be rejected, and suffer, and be killed, Peter pulls him aside to tell him he has it all wrong. And how does Jesus respond to him? “Get behind me…Satan.”
Garrett suggests this is consistent with the way that Mark describes the temptation of Jesus by Satan. Again and again, Jesus finds himself tempted by satanic distractions to lose his way. For Garrett, these are not supernatural boogiemen, like something from a horror movie, but the simple option of choosing the good over the great. The human over the divine. Jesus always has the option of choosing to use his power to show off, to seize political control, to avoid pain and suffering, to make money, to succeed in human ways. He can always choose these things, and is tempted to do so, but doing so will distract from his overall mission. So Jesus calling Peter Satan references his role as tempter: “Get behind me. Don’t distract me from my overall mission. Don’t tell me that this can happen without struggle. Don’t choose human things over divine things. Look at the world with divine eyes, not human eyes.”
Peter sees part of the way. He knows that Jesus is the Messiah, but he doesn’t understand what that word means. He gets the Super Bowl champion Jesus, but not the bottom of the cellar Jesus. He’s all in for Messiah Jesus, as long as it comes with the glory and power that he associates with that word. It is no accident that Mark relates this story right after a two-part healing story. Jesus heals a man who is blind, but in the first attempt, his sight is still blurry and incomplete. Like Peter, he sees part-way. It takes more healing to get it right. To get it complete. Here at the halfway point of the Gospel, Peter and the disciples have started to see who Jesus is and what he is about. But they are still bumping around half-blind. The rest of the Gospel will be about Jesus working on getting them to see who he really is. So that then they will be ready to tell the story.
What about us? Why does this matter for us? Let me suggest that we still have the option of choosing the good over the great. The human over the divine. How are we tempted to use our power to show off, to seize political control, to avoid pain and suffering, to make money, to succeed in human ways? Many of us have spent a lot of time in churches in the last few decades, in the midst of what is often called the “church growth movement.” The message of this movement is basically, “Let’s grow our churches, and get more members, and get bigger buildings…for Jesus!” I think that there is a lot that has been good and healthy about this movement, yet there is always this temptation to do all of that…for something else. Our own ego. Our own sense of pride. The worship of Numbers, and Dollars, and Buildings, and Stuff can turn the faith into a commodity.
And I wonder sometimes if Jesus might say the same thing that he did to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan. Don’t pretend that earthly power is going to cut it. Don’t wave your dollars and impressive facilities at me. The things that I have come to share with this world are about deeper truths. Even if there are just a handful of people who understand, and they don’t have any money, my Gospel is one that stays committed to these deeper things:
• Caring for those who are hungry, even if they can’t give you anything in return…
• Healing those who are alone and afraid, even if they aren’t going to pay the bills…
• Listening to the outsiders and marginalized, even if it means that we lose some of the popularity in the eyes of the mainstream.”
If Jesus were to show up today, would he remind us that we aren’t here to proclaim a bandwagon gospel, filled with flag-waving, parade-celebrating, popularity-contest-winning programs and buildings and attendance? Because, there are a lot of Christians who believe that is what the Gospel is all about. Christians who have sold their souls to stay in political power, terrified that they would lose earthly privilege. They have been unwilling to accept a lower place in the eyes of the world. A smaller congregation. A reduced budget. But Jesus is calling us to a diehard discipleship, not a band-wagoning ego-stroke. Which, by the way, is the call that I watch folks here at First Baptist following, week in and week out. The call to live alongside those who struggle. The promise to listen to voices who others ignore. The practice of healing and caring and giving to those who need it most. Not a lot of band-wagoners around here.
I have had folks ask me before, “Who was Jesus’ publicist? Why would he downplay all of this amazing stuff that he was doing, instead of shouting it from the rooftops? If he had just played his cards right and shown off a little, he wouldn’t have any trouble filling his fundraising goals, and packing the house every night!”
Of course, that is the argument that Satan made in the wilderness, too. Just do your thing from the top of the Temple. Show them your stuff. Let the angels accompany you to thunderous applause. Jesus seemed to know that that kind of display would have earned him the bandwagon fans. But not those willing to stick by during the hard years. Alongside of the toughest cases of suffering. Eschewing the worldly stuff that so many of us think is valuable. Jesus knew that he would need some Tyler Palko-level disciples.
So, instead of inviting the crowds up to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. Instead of bringing the representative of the Nazareth Times. Instead of even bringing the twelve guys that kind of understood what he was up to, even though they dropped the ball more than not. He brought three. Perhaps the three who would be the strongest leaders when he was gone. Perhaps the three who he thought would encourage the others when the bandwagon days were over. Perhaps the three who needed the most remedial work to get it right before he left them on their own.
Three of them joined him on the top of the mountain. Left behind the majesty of the fine homes in the valley. Left behind the band-wagoning political power players kissing up to the Romans. Left behind the crowds demanding a moneyed Messiah. And in a quiet moment up on top of the hill, Jesus showed them what true power was all about. May we open our eyes to that power in our world today.
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