discipleship
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When Jesus speaks of being salted with fire, he speaks of seasoning in life, in living, in hoping and experiencing God’s grace.
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In the second passion prediction, Jesus again upends the disciples’ expectations (and ours) for a messiah, and for his followers.
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In the turning point in the gospel of Mark, Jesus is confronted with Peter’s ignorance and empire’s promise of safe oppression.
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The word “Messiah” is loaded with meaning—then and now. And that meaning is built around expectations that Jesus won’t embody.
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In these two encounters with the Syrophoenician woman and the deaf man, seeing Jesus change his mind allows us to do the same.
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How Jesus speaks to his interlocutors in this gospel can be troubling or exciting, but our focus must be what he is teaching his followers.