We have two words we use in our study of scripture. We use that million dollar word: Exegesis. That is a word that is about studying the text in the original language. As you know that is Hebrew and Greek.
We have another word and it is “eisegesis”. That is a word we use when talking about who we see ourselves, or our own culture in the text. It is interpreting the Bible verses through our experience. We can’t help but do that for we are from a culture and our experiences play a huge part in how we see the world and who we read our Bible. Often, we imagine Jesus as like us. We see Jesus as we are.
Jesus asked his disciples what others were saying about him. Then he asked, but who do YOU say that I am? There is an old funny list you may have heard about 3 arguments Jesus is was a woman, black, Jewish …. Let me list these just for fun.
Three Good Arguments That Jesus Was a Woman, or a Black Woman, or …
There are 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone “brother”
2. He liked Gospel
3. He couldn’t get a fair trial.
But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Fathers business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his mother thought he was God.
But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.
But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.
But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all – 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment’s notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn’t get it
3. And even when he was dead, He had to get up because there was more work to do.
The disciples answered. Some say you are John the Baptist. You speak with authority. You draw huge crowds. You are not afraid of the powers that be.
Some say you are Elijah. You bring to life the dead. You find a way to feed others. You trust God and others see it.
Or some other prophet, there are so many prophets you could be Jesus.
Who do we say? Peter answered, “You are Christ.”
Tell no one. For they do not know what that means yet. We know, but we do not know sometimes. We have the rest of the story and we know, but we do not know. Jesus begins to tell them he must suffer and die. He tells them he will be rejected by the leaders. He also tells them after three days he will rise from the dead. That part was hard to hear, maybe impossible after hearing suffering, rejection and dying. So, Peter comes to his defense and wanted Jesus to stop talking that way. He would never let this happen to his beloved friend and Lord. Maybe he thought Jesus was just feeling despair and giving up. Maybe he thought Jesus needed to know of their loyalty when others were rejecting him.
But Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to take the violent way out. Or for trying to get him to avoid his mission. Probably Jesus was wanting that as well, revenge and resistance or running away and hiding. Peter was being a temptation saying the words Jesus wanted to say as well, but knew he had a higher calling. So he says Peter is Satan, tempting him with protection or avoidance. He tells Peter he is not thinking of God’s thoughts, but human ones.
Hard not to Jesus, after all we are human. How can we think in God’s ways? Show us how. He did just that. He put his faith into practice. We know the rest of the story.
He didn’t stop there. He not only told the disciples what he was to do. He said if we want to be called his disciples, we too will make sacrifices. Take up your cross and follow me.
I am not sure what that means. But there are some things I think it does not mean ….
Jesus ends with if you are ashamed of me and my non-violent actions, and my willingness to go to the cross to suffer and die … then I will be ashamed of you.
We are Peter. We have turned his words around and tried to make them palatable. I am being persecuted as a Christian. No you are not. I am going to boldly claim Jesus. So you are going to put down your assault weapons and follow Jesus even to the cross which is not fighting or hating or excluding?
IT is not hey look at me I am a Christian. No, Jesus has some harsh words about people who pray in the streets for all to see.
The ashamed is to be ashamed of his message that he will not respond in violence. That is what made Peter go from Pope to Satan in one fell swoop.
So, we claim you as Messiah then we will be on top. You claim Jesus is the Messiah you are called to the bottom. To lift others up.
Jesus presents to us the great mystery of the descending way. It is the way of suffering, but also the way to healing. It is the way of humiliation, but also the way to the resurrection. It is the way of tears, but of tears that turn into tears of joy. It is the way of hiddenness, but also the way that leads to the light that will shine for all people. It is the way of persecution, oppression, martyrdom, and death, but also the way to the full disclosure of God’s love. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says: “As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14–15). You see in these words how the descending way of Jesus becomes the ascending way. The “lifting up” that Jesus speaks of refers both to his being raised up on the cross in total humiliation and to his being raised up from the dead in total glorification. . . .
Each one of us has to seek out his or her own descending way of love. That calls for much prayer, much patience, and much guidance. It has nothing at all to do with spiritual heroics, dramatically throwing everything overboard to “follow” Jesus. The descending way is a way that is concealed in each person’s heart. But because it is so seldom walked on, it’s often overgrown with weeds. Slowly but surely we have to clear the weeds, open the way, and set out on it unafraid.