Have it God's Way ~ Mark 8:31-38 ~ Second Sunday in Lent

In the 1970's, Burger King rocked the fast food hamburger universe by introducing its famous tagline Have it Your Way.

It used to be that your fast food hamburger was prepared en masse—and if you didn't want mayonnaise on it, your only option was to scrape it off before you ate it. 

But Burger King changed the game.  Now, you can have your burger prepared any way you want it-- and they'll make it special, just for you.

One could say that we live in a Have it Your Way kind of world. 

Just consider how many choices you have for things like breakfast cereals or spaghetti sauce.  Our televisions have hundreds of channels.  There are communication technologies that allow people to talk to anyone in the world, watch any move, hear any song, at any time, in any place.

And sadly, the “Have it Your Way” philosophy has made its way into mainstream Christianity.  There are no shortage of voices out there who will tell you, "have faith, be a good person, and God will bless you.  You won't get sick; you won't suffer.  God will prosper you."

We love to have it our way—because it’s power.  It’s the power to satisfy our needs and wants. 

And we love the idea of having a God who operates on our own terms; one who blesses us and prospers us for doing good; who punishes us for doing bad…  We want a God who works in ways we understand.

This was exactly what Peter had in mind when he learned that Jesus was the Messiah.  And he was not alone in this…  For generations, Jerusalem had been held captive under oppressive Roman rule, and the religious system of the day was controlled by men who were just as ruthless. 

Peter (and most of the people in Israel) were hoping for a Messiah who would rise up to power; who would kick the Romans out of Jerusalem, reclaim the Jewish religion, and rule over the land of Israel—so God's people could live in peace and prosperity. 

So Peter was absolutely shocked when Jesus told him that he "must undergo great suffering, be rejected by the religious leaders, and be killed."  Messiahs weren't supposed to die a criminal's death.

And the news was bad for Peter personally: since he was a disciple of Jesus, his ultimate fate could very well be the same as his Messiah. 

To say that Peter was disappointed would be an understatement.  And he had a right to be.  This was a huge letdown.  This was terrifying news.  Peter’s “way” for the redemption of God’s people was not sinful or evil.  Every human heart longs for peace and health and well-being.  And we will always be disappointed—or even angry, when we bring these most basic requests before God in prayer—and our prayers are unanswered…

And it is really intimidating to hear Jesus harsh words after Peter voices his disappointment.  He says, “Get behind me, Satan!”  To us, it almost sounds as though it’s wrong for us to be disappointed with God. 

Yes, Peter has set his mind on human things—but that’s because he doesn’t understand God’s ways.  He does not understand how Jesus could die on the cross—or why…  He does not understand that God’s plan for the redemption would be accomplished not through an act of power, but in weakness, suffering, and humiliation…  He does not understand that God’s victory will be won not in military conquest, but in the raising of Christ from the dead.

And who, among us, can ever say that we have always understood God’s ways?

We all suffer losses and pains; we all suffer evil and we feel shame and guilt for all the bad things we’ve done—and the one question that never goes away is: “why, God?”

We wonder if God is punishing us for something done wrong… 

We wonder what God is trying to teach us, or what good could possibly come out of this terrible situation? 

And most of the time, we don’t know the answers…  We struggle just to believe that God is with us…  Our dire circumstances reinforce our doubts, and we find ourselves wondering if there’s any God left to believe in…

So when things fall apart, are we just supposed to put on a happy face, and just accept things as they are as God’s will?  Should we just try and set our minds on divine things, lest we, too, receive such a harsh rebuke from Jesus? 

It is disappointing that we can’t have it our way when it comes to the life we live.  Setting our mind on divine things requires us to let go of our need to be in control of our lives.  The faith that God requires is one that says, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

That kind of faith, however, does not come easy.  We need God’s help to believe.  And God’s help is not a reward for accepting that which is unacceptable; nor is God’s help the reward for helping ourselves. 

God meets us in our questions.  God meets us in those times of anguish and doubt.  Jesus himself cried out on the cross, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  And God will hear our cries just the same.  Our disappointments, our frustrations, our doubts, and our brokenness: these we can bring before God as offerings which God will receive with all gentleness and compassion.  And in turn, God will give you the faith to hold on.

In the times and places of weakness, brokenness, and defeat, Christ is present with us.  This is where God’s redemption happens.  This is where Jesus saves us; where everlasting life becomes a reality.

Life will bring us many disappointments.  We can never know the mind of God so as to understand exactly what God is doing or why in our times of despair.  But it is in these seasons of loss where new life in God springs into being. 

We will not always get what we want—but God can work even in the midst of our deepest sorrows to give us the life we desperately need.  Christ’s cross and resurrection are signs of the promise that, come what may, God’s way is, ultimately, the way it shall be. 

And we can’t make it to eternal life any other way—but God’s way.  But thanks be to God that God does whatever it takes to make sure we get there.