Which disciple best describes you? Are you want John, contemplative and thoughtful, someone who takes time to ponder spiritual truths? Or perhaps you might be like James, brash and filled with motion? Is Philip more your style, all the time bringing people to Jesus? Or do you are feeling closer to Bartholemew, someone faithful but sitting within the background? Me? I’m like Peter. Too often, I find myself saying something I wish I could take back. I speak before I believe, and I leap before I look.
Peter is a person of intense faithfulness; he desires to live as near Jesus as possible. But he often puts his foot in his mouth. As hard as Peter tries, he never quite gets things exactly right. Perhaps the largest example of that is his rebuke of Jesus. Jesus describes his upcoming crucifixion, and Peter fires off a rebuke that does nothing but highlight his own misunderstanding.
I’m blissful that Jesus selected Peter to be a disciple because he echoes our own experience of religion. As hard as we try, none of us are as perfect as we wish to be. We say or do the incorrect thing sometimes. And sometimes, like Peter, we claim to know greater than we do. Dare I suggest that, at times, we could have even rebuked the Lord?
Peter’s rebuke of Jesus reveals how easy it’s for us to fall into such a trap. Peter bases his rebuke on three misconceptions, misconceptions that we will make about our faith.
Misunderstanding the Kingdom
Peter’s rebuke shows a misunderstanding in regards to the way of redemption. Peter believed redemption was about vanquishing Israel’s enemies and establishing national glory. The problem, after all, was that God’s redemptive plan wasn’t politically based. Jesus got here to not be an earthly king but a heavenly one. Thus, the road to glory was utterly different. “Jesus began to show them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, that he should be killed and after three days rise again. Jesus spoke plainly about this” (Mark 8:31). Jesus used no flowery language, no metaphors, parables, or stories. Jesus spoke openly about his suffering and death. This was the way in which of the Kingdom.
But Peter didn’t wish to hear it. He rebuked Jesus and, in doing so, suggested that Jesus didn’t understand the messianic job description. By rebuking Jesus, Peter puts Jesus under his authority and demands that he follow Peter’s understanding of how the Kingdom of God could be caused.
Before criticizing Peter an excessive amount of, we must always ask ourselves: Do we attempt to muscle Jesus into our plans? Do we force Jesus right into a preconceived box and demand that he serve our wishes and understandings? When we achieve this, we assert that we all know more in regards to the kingdom of God than he does. We effectively rebuke the Lordship of Jesus and place ourselves because the arbiter of the Kingdom. Such an attitude betrays the spirit of humility that we’re to inhabit. The Lordship of Christ will not be something that we wield for our profit or control. Faith means we bow before the Lord in humility, trust, and obedience.
Embracing the World
When Peter rebuked Jesus, he suggested he knew more about God’s redemptive plan than Jesus did. Yet his understanding was limited and finite, based solely on human conceptions and concepts. For the Jewish people of the day, the term “Messiah” carried the expectations of power, prestige, and Kingly rule. The Messiah would come to the people, end Roman tyranny, and reestablish the glory of Israel. This is how Peter understood the role and mission of the Messiah.
Peter isn’t alone on this, either. James and John ask Jesus to take a seat on his right and left, thereby assuming positions of glory and power (Mark 10:37). The disciples believed that Jesus’ exultation by some means “spilled over” to themselves. The human-based glory of Jesus would mean the human-based glory of the disciples.
But this understanding of God’s redemptive plan is fake. God’s kingdom will not be considered one of worldly success or power. Jesus says to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You do not need in mind the things of God, however the things of men” (Mark 8:33). Peter’s finite understanding stood in opposition to God’s redemptive plan because he was pondering only by way of human power.
Jesus didn’t come for human glory but for the glorification of God. His redemptive plan was seen in sacrifice and vulnerability, not in wielding political strength. Similarly, we’re called to show away from worldly concepts of power. Pursuing worldly fame, prestige, or influence vital betrays our allegiance to Christ. James writes, “Don’t you understand that friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). Following Jesus necessarily puts us at odds with the world around us. Faith in Christ means we embody his way of grace, love, and self-sacrifice.
Refusing the Cross
Jesus is evident: the way in which of the Kingdom is the way in which of the cross. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, they have to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Make no mistake, Jesus is asking his disciples to walk a road that might result in martyrdom. For the followers of Jesus, the cross was an emblem of utmost punishment and death. To take up their cross meant that they were willing to undergo shame, ridicule, torture, and death for the sake of following Jesus.
Refusing to walk the way in which of sacrificial love suggests that the way in which of the cross is mistaken. It is to favor our comfort and ease greater than our allegiance to Christ. Instead of pursuing Christ’s kingdom, we glance to the maximization of our own glory.
But this misunderstands the cross. For as much because the cross is the way in which of sacrifice, additionally it is the way in which of resurrection. In Peter’s enthusiastic refusal of the cross, he missed this essential teaching. Jesus is evident that he can be crucified but that he can be raised on the third day. Jesus was open in regards to the resurrection and the way in which of everlasting life. Paul writes about how we share within the suffering of Christ in order that we may share in his resurrection (Romans8:17-18). To follow the way in which of the cross is to embrace our resurrection.
Do we embrace the cross? Are we willing to just accept the reproach of family or friends due to our faith? Or can we shun the cross and keep it at a secure distance? Do we rebuke all of the hard stuff of religion, corresponding to the decision to self-denial or repentance? Do we prefer to be present in the way in which of Jesus only for brief times – while the remainder of our life is lived in pursuit of our own leisure or entertainment?
Embracing the words of Jesus will be demanding at times, even uncomfortable. Because of this, it might be tempting to base our Christian life on our own faulty understandings. And in those moments, we’re more like Peter than we may realize. But the excellent news is that our Lord is eternally gracious towards us. He doesn’t forged us off or discredit our faith. He calls us back to himself so we may know him more deeply and walk in faith and obedience.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Isaiah Rustad
LISTEN: Let Our Bible Study Expert Help You Start the New Year Right!
Have you ever chosen a word for the 12 months? Whether you decide a word annually or never have before, I believe this episode will allow you to order your life within the 12 months to come back. If you do not know what your word is, today is likely to be an excellent day so that you can hear a number of the things that we’re promised in Christ that you simply in faith can claim for yourself for 2024. Keep in mind, each of those words requires faith.
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
