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Lenten Season · Second Sunday in Lent · Year B

Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

Jesus Predicts His Death

February 21, 2027

Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco
Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco, c. 1580Metropolitan Museum of Art
El Greco painted this subject repeatedly. Christ does not stagger; he holds the cross almost gently and looks upward, and the burden is carried rather than suffered.Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple: the painting is about how it is carried.El GrecoA Cretan icon painter who trained in Venice and settled in Toledo, where he stretched his figures into something no other century has imitated successfully.Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe largest art museum in the Americas, founded in 1870 by a group of New Yorkers who wanted one and had no collection to start from.Metropolitan Museum of Art
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMark 8:31-38Mk 8:31-38 orMark 9:2-9Mk 9:2-9
EpistleRom. 4:13-25Rom 4:13-25
Old TestamentGen. 17:1-7, 15-16Gn 17:1-7, 15-16
PsalterPs. 22:23-31Ps 22:23-31

Overview & Insights

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

The previous section developed the necessity and meaning of Jesus’s suffering (8:27–33). Jesus then uses his messianic suffering as the model for discipleship. The sayings in 8:34–9:1 define the implications for true followers, with the thesis statement telling how to follow (v. 34) followed by two clarifications telling why we should follow Jesus (vv. 35–37, 38) and an eschatological promise linking discipleship with the parousia (9:1).

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Take it further: Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

Commentary

Mark 8:31-38Mk 8:31-38 Working Preacher

Lutheran exegesis on Jesus' first passion prediction and the call to take up the cross.

Mark 8:31-38Mk 8:31-38 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed commentary framing the Lenten journey through Peter's misunderstanding.

Cross Purposes SALT Project

An ecumenical commentary on the hardest of Jesus' teachings about suffering and discipleship.

Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

A Catholic reflection and discussion questions for the Second Sunday of Lent.

Unpredictable Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Anglican homily on God's unchangeable but unpredictable truth.

Mark 8Mk 8 Enduring Word · David Guzik

An evangelical verse-by-verse commentary on the whole chapter.

Classic commentaries on Mark 8Classic commentaries on Mk 8 BibleHub

Aggregates classic and scholarly commentaries on the passage verse by verse.

Background & Word Study

The Imperatives of Discipleship Left Behind and Loving It

A close Greek reading of Jesus' commands to deny self and take up the cross.

The call to take up our cross in Mark 8The call to take up our cross in Mk 8 Psephizo · Ian Paul

Unpacks the original meaning of cross-bearing against its modern misuse.

The Church Fathers

Mark 8, patristic commentaryMk 8, patristic commentary Catena

Compiles patristic comments from the church fathers verse by verse.

Sermons & Reflections

Gains and Losses Journey with Jesus

A reflection on Peter, self-denial, and what following Jesus costs.

Worship & Prayers

Second Sunday in Lent, Year B UMC Discipleship

United Methodist prayers and liturgy built on the day's readings.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave: Second Sunday in Lent Working Preacher

Luther Seminary scholars talk through all four texts for preaching.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

Curated artwork, hymns, and images tied to each reading.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Lent 2B Textweek

A master index linking commentary, art, and sermon resources for the day (a few links may be dated).

Questions preachers ask

What does Jesus mean by taking up the cross?

Having foretold his own suffering, Jesus calls his followers on the same road: to lose their life for his sake and the gospel's is to save it, the heart of the Lenten journey.

Prep at sermons.com

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