January 18, 2025  

Today's Reading: Mark 8:27-35 (36-9:1) 

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 40:1-4; 43:1-12; Ezekiel 40:5-42:20; 43:13-27; Romans 8:18-39

“And He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’” (Mark 8:29)

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus is concerned about what His disciples think about Him. Therefore, the Church should be concerned about what people think about Jesus and be bold to say, “You are the Christ.” Furthermore, we know from our Creeds that Jesus, the Messiah, is true God and true man, the “Word made Flesh” Who would save by giving His life only to take it up again on the third day. Faith believes this, and faith makes this our confession.

In our society, there’s no shortage of false gods. False worship is everywhere with gods ranging from money to the self. “Who is Jesus?” is a question we can’t ignore. Gone are the days of assuming church membership and the influence of basic Christian doctrines. The Church must confess so people hear and, by the grace of God, believe. After Peter confesses Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus teaches the content of that confession by explaining His salvific work. He will suffer many things, be rejected by religious leaders, die, and rise after three days. Peter’s rebuke of this teaching is well-known and warrants Jesus’ rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mark 8:33). The things of man are many, and include our quest for glory and riches, not suffering and death. The anointed Christ sent to save must die, a point Peter doesn’t want to hear in Mark 8. However, to confess Christ demands confessing His crucifixion and death, as well as His resurrection. It’s the Church’s task to confess this about our Savior unapologetically.

Finally, we’ve all sinned in failing to make this known. We’ve hidden the light when afraid the truth would hurt. We’ve failed to seek heavenly things over the things of man. We’ve shirked away from taking a stand when we should’ve been bold. Lord, have mercy. Repent and hear again the Gospel of Christ, crucified and risen from the dead. These are the things of God: life and salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. This we believe, this we confess. In Him, we live, and in Him, we find comfort for sins like Peter when we dropped the ball and failed to understand and speak. Thankfully, God is merciful and doesn’t leave us in our sin. He sent the Christ, the Son of the living God. It’s in the things of God we have salvation, and that’s what we are to confess, not the things of man. 

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

God, grant us faith to believe in Your Word and set our minds on the heavenly things above, not the earthly things below. Grants us the mouth to speak, courage to stand, and hearts filled with faith always receiving Your bountiful goodness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

-Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.