A Disconcerting Fact Mark 8:31-33.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Dear Holy Nation,
Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Messiah was a high point in his understanding of God’s plan. However, God’s ways often look illogical, against the common wisdom, and recognizing that God has a plan does not necessarily mean that we will be fully yielded to Him and accept his plan. Peter is about to learn a hard lesson.
Revelation (v. 31). Having been recognized by the disciples as the Anointed One of God, Jesus proceeds to reveal the plan of God to them. It nowhere near what they expected. According to their understanding, the Messiah would come in the clouds and rout the enemies of Israel. When Jesus begins to talk about being rejected by Israel’s substantive religious and political leaders, the disciples are in bewilderment. Yet their understanding, colored by the political climate of the time, failed to see the teaching of the Old Testament about a suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53:1-12).
Rebuke (v. 32). Driven by his over-confidence and basking in the glory of having made a momentous declaration, Peter has the temerity to rebuke Jesus. The fact that Jesus is not following the script as taught by the rabbis of the time and welcomed by the people who desperately needed a liberator, is not welcome. Confessing Jesus as the Messiah should have been accompanied by total submission to his person and plan, but Peter thinks himself wiser – and don’t we all?
Reprimand (v. 33). Jesus’ sharp reproof of Peter arouses curiosity, not because it is harsh, but because Jesus addresses not Peter, but Satan. The primary mission of Jesus was to die on the cross for the sins of the world. To oppose the mission would be to aid Satan in his quest. Jesus points out that Peter’s interest not on “the things of God, but on the things of man.” This should be a caution to all of us. It is possible to confess Jesus, yet be distracted by our selfish desires to the point of serving the interests of Satan. Have you examined your motives? What is your interest – the Saviour or the self?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.