Last week we noted that Peter's confession and commissioning as also our own. The power of God in our lives is great. This week the text centers on Jesus' prediction of his passion. Peter's confession serves as a springboard from which Jesus makes his first prediction of his passion (Mt. 16:21-23).
The question now becomes, will we accept him, will we follow him, knowing where the winding path will lead, for him and us?
None of us wants pain and suffering to befall a loved one. We understand Peter's impulse perfectly. In fact, Jesus could have been flattered that one of his main followers cared this much about him? Why doesn't Jesus thank him and then gently explain and correct?
It’ s possible that this resistance to his own future had been rattling around in Jesus' thoughts. He is human too. But when Peter puts it into words, Jesus recognizes the source: Satan. Since Satan couldn't get anywhere with Jesus, he is now trying to work on the devotion of his disciples, and our devotion as well. To get between the disciples, us, and Jesus.
He is trying to get us all to not accept Jesus and his fate. Peter's sentiments must be sternly condemned, because they lead us to choose not just to let Jesus go it alone, but to actively oppose his mission. The lack of trust Peter shows in Jesus is doubly disturbing considering the tremendous trust Jesus has just placed in him. We have been given the same trust and mission. We accepted Jesus as Messiah, we must also accept Jesus’ passion, his death and resurrection. Through that acceptance, we can go into the mission field and walk the walk and talk the talk. Living his way, his truth and his life.
Pastor David