Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection (ESV Heading)
Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Mat 16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
Mat 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
I read this passage recently and realised I’d probably have said something similar to Peter. Imagine that! Peter began to rebuke him! Peter actually takes him to one side. It’s extraordinary. He’s ready to jump in, shooting from the hip ‘This’ll never happen’ etc. Think of it in terms of State relationships – the State can’t be allowed to do this…. And in a way Peter is right. The greatest injustice ever in all history takes place there in Jerusalem. The Son of God hangs upon the tree!
(William Williams, 1717-91)
I find myself being so negative. Why didn’t Peter say: ‘Wow! That’s amazing Lord! You mean, they are going to kill you, but you’re going to rise from the dead and defeat death! Praise God. That’s incredible. We’re with you.’
No, he didn’t say that, and neither would I. Shame on me. He couldn’t see the plan of God. I’m sure there are times to be negative (to appear so anyway), to point them out – but not then. A time and a place. That wasn’t it. And then he got rebuked because he couldn’t see beyond the immediate. More than that, the Lord Jesus tells Peter that he’s a hindrance to him. Wrong views are a hindrance.In our fallen world, of sin, and death, and despair, of a struggling and seemingly weak church, and of negativity, we look up and see Him seated at the right hand of the majesty on high (Heb 8:1). We see a Lamb standing, looking as though it had been slain (Rev 5:6). See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered (Rev 5:5)! Then, we see the plan of God.
Then, we have the things of God in mind and not of man.