Pulpit To Pew

In this episode, Rev. Gibson shares her recollection and thoughts on this Sunday’s gospel lessons and Rev. Marshall Craver’s sermon. Rev. Craver’s sermon focused on faithfully following God’s plan, reversal of Divine Power, and the true nature of Jesus The Christ. In Mark's gospel, Peter refused to believe what Jesus was telling him when he revealed the prediction of the Passion. Jesus’s impending death on the Cross and his loving service to others is the opposite of our culture’s perception of God's power. Instead of Jesus being God’s dynamite, Jesus's life, death, and mission of self-sacrifice over self-power and active love over control are true examples of God’s reversal of Divine Power. This “theology of the cross” (not “theology of glory”) is rooted in God’s ever-present mercy, serving others instead of being served, and giving not grabbing represents the difficulty and high stakes of discipleship. Self-protection and self-promotion have no value in the life spent following Jesus. Only in losing the li