WHEN PETER MISSED IT
Matthew 16:21-24 NKJV
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
I like Peter. Maybe because I can relate to his penchant for blurting things out. He puts his mouth in motion before engaging his mind. But the chances are strong that Peter was not in his sixties when he first encountered Jesus. He was young and learning. I don't have the same excuse.
In our verses for today, Peter is rebuking Jesus. As a general rule, that is never a good idea. Jesus had just predicted His death in Jerusalem, and Peter was having none of it. Peter told the Lord that what He said was not going to happen. And at face value, this is Peter expressing his love and concern for Jesus.
But Jesus saw something beyond Peter's words. Jesus saw a motive that was selfish. Jesus' answer of, "Get behind Me, Satan, you are an offense to Me," seems to be farly harsh words if Peter was only expressing love and concern. But Peter was expressing something more. Jesus said that Peter was not mindful of the things of God, but instead the things of men. Peter was concerned, but the concern was for Peter. Because of Jesus being in his life, Peter was elevated to a place he never dreamed he would be. Peter, in the same chapter, had declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter rightly saw Jesus as the Messiah, the ruler of Israel. Peter had it right there, but his timing was way off. If Jesus was the Messiah, the one who returned Israel to prominence and power, then there was Peter right there with Him. Peter, the fisherman, would become Peter, one of the key leaders of Israel. Peter, who was in the inner circle with Jesus, would be elevated with Jesus to a place of power and prominence.
Jesus said Peter was not mindful of the things of God but the things of men. Peter was thinking that if Jesus died, then he would once again be Peter the fisherman. We see this selfish motive by what Jesus says next. Jesus began to speak with His disciples, directly after rebuking Peter, about denying yourself to take up your cross and follow Jesus. This following Jesus was not about arriving at a place of power. Rather, it was about putting the interests of God and His kingdom above personal interests. Peter wanted to take up the scepter of political authority. Jesus wanted Peter to take up his cross of self-denial. Peter missed it, but he got back on track and became an outstanding leader in the Body of Christ.
APPLICATION
It is so easy to come to Jesus for what He can do for us personally. And there is nothing wrong with receiving help, healing, and strength from the Lord. But we don't want to stop there. We want to follow Him for what we can do for Him, not just what He can do for us. Take up your cross did not go away when Jesus ascended back into heaven.
We can still rejoice with taking up the benefits that are ours in Christ. But as you take up the benefits, don't leave your cross behind. We take up our cross and follow Him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for going God's way instead of the way of man. Thank You for taking up Your cross. Show me how to take up my cross and follow You.