24.153 | GET BEHIND ME, SATAN! | Mark

God’s Word for Today
26 June, 2024
31 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. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 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.”
-Mark 8:31-33 ESV
GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!
Jesus gathered His disciples. He began to teach them about His forthcoming suffering and death under the elders, chief priests and the scribes. These three-the chief priests, scribes, and elders-make up the Sanhedrin, the legal and political branch of Judaism. But, after three days He will rise again. He said this plainly. There was no ambiguity.
When Jesus calls Himself the "Son of Man," He's not just emphasizing His human nature. He is referring to the prophecy in Daniel wherein the Ancient of Days gives the Son of Man "dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Dan 7:13-14).
After this announcement of His death, the disciples make some kind of dominant protest, led by Peter. Impliedly, Peter claims he has authority by rebuking Jesus. His crucifixion is the pinnacle of self-sacrifice and humility and love. However, the Twelve are still caught up in the fact that their friend will be King.
Let’s be watchful. We may fall into the same trap as Peter did. Jesus did not come to make some earthly territory into a superpower, did He? His purpose is to save individuals from eternal damnation. He did not come to lead Christians to redeem or control the culture, but to serve others. Was not Paul surrounded by friends who would rather see him safe than follow God's plan? (Acts 21:3-4, 25:8-11). Is not the primacy of health and wealth over the gospel a manipulative act of the devil in this generation?
Peter might have good intentions for Jesus’ comfort and safety. Unbeknown to him he became an instrument of Satan. Jesus strongly rebuked Satan who was behind Peter’s protest. Anything good or better we pursue as a substitute of fulfilling God’s will may subtly comes from Satan.
Moreover, we see the gullibility of Peter’s heart. At Through the Father’s revelation, Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ.[Matt 16:16] And in a moment, he was influenced by Satan to oppose Jesus. It is Satan’s intention to either sidetrack or block Jesus’ death at the cross.
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