In today’s lectionary reading we have a fascinating interaction between Jesus and Peter concerning Jesus’ arrest, death, and resurrection. On reading it we might find that we have some sympathy with Peter. Recently Jesus had instructed his disciples not to tell anyone about him (Mark 8:27-30) however now Jesus is openly talking about what is going to happen to him. Peter may have been surprised by Jesus’ sudden openness as well as finding Jesus’ words about his arrest and death difficult to accept himself. Peter might also be concerned that the message would be difficult for others to hear and could disadvantage the messianic movement that was coalescing around Jesus. To put it another way; what Jesus was saying was strange and not necessarily particularly popular to Peter and to others.

Having been challenged in his attitude by Jesus, Peter then listens to what Jesus has to say about discipleship and following him: That they have to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. This would also have been challenging to hear. Afterall Peter is likely to have been familiar with the expectations placed upon the people who were subjects of the Roman Empire. Rome promised those it ruled Pax Romana (Roman Peace) which was sustained through brutal military occupation. Those under the auspices of the Empire were promised peace and order through their deprivation and denial; with the burden of heavy taxation and the possibility of forced labour. At the head of this empire was Augustus, a figure who was deified as the Divi Filius (‘son of god’).

However, the key difference is that while the Roman Empire was built on military conquest and oppression God’s Kingdom was found on love, mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness. The Kingdom that Jesus heralded promised liberation from the burden of sin and a new way of being where every person would be released into the fullness of life. While the emperor lived in pomp and luxury in Rome Jesus lived amongst the poor in Galilee. His ministry of teaching, feeding, healing, and serving was in marked contrast to the words and actions of the earthly empire that occupied and exploited the people in that region.

Furthermore, Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world. It is not temporary or defined by borders; it does not adopt any of the trappings of an earthly empire. Instead, Jesus, the King, who would give up his life on the cross so that his people might have forgiveness, and have eternal life through the resurrection, represents a Kingdom that is boundless, that will never end, and is life giving.

Being part of this Kingdom, however, means that we are asked to follow Jesus and the way of the cross. This means that we must reject sinful selfishness and instead live in a way that exemplifies the grace and love of God. We do this by the help of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence in us, who enables our service and who gives us life in all its fullness. While the Roman Empire establishes its oppressive Pax Romana through fear, the liberating peace of the Kingdom of God is found in love and in hope through God’s Spirit. So in this season of Lent, we reaffirm our commitment to following Jesus and being part of his Kingdom as we walk with him, bear the cross, embrace the Holy Spirit, and look to the resurrection.