“He meant well.” someone tells us about the bad advice that another gave us. Perhaps he did mean well, but the advice or comments were not good. If we listened and followed their words, it could have led to terrible consequences. No matter how good the intentions may be, sometimes we have to cast aside advice or comments that others bring to us. This was the case between Peter and Jesus in our Gospel reading for this week. Had Jesus listened to Peter, the results would have been catastrophic for all of humanity for all time. Let’s take a look.
Shortly before our Scripture began, the Apostle Peter had just made a great statement of faith. He was the first of the twelve apostles to openly proclaim his belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). That was a special moment for Peter. It helped to solidify his position as one of the leaders of what would soon become the early Church. Now, shortly after that momentous occasion, Jesus was sharing with the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem where the religious leaders would capture Him, violently treat Him, and put Him to death, but on the third day He would rise again (vs. 21).
When Peter heard this news, he thought that it was terrible, that such a thing should not be allowed to happen. Peter knew that the Pharisees and religious leaders were opposed to Jesus and His ministry, but he could not let them accomplish what Jesus was predicting here. The apostle took Jesus aside and chided Him for speaking of suffering and death. He couldn’t believe that death would be part of God’s plan. How many preachers today continue to do the same, as they reject the cross? In many churches today we never hear any mention of Jesus’ shed Blood and death on the cross for our sins.
At this moment, Jesus had a choice. He could listen to Peter, listen to his words to reject the plan that led to His death on the cross, or He could reject Peter’s well-intentioned words and go on to Jerusalem and His death on the cross for our salvation. It didn’t take any time for Jesus to make His choice. Jesus knew that the sole reason He came was to sacrifice His life for the salvation of mankind. If Jesus did not go to the cross and die, there would be no salvation or forgiveness of sins, and everyone who ever lived would die in their sins and spend eternity separated from God. Jesus turned around and spoke directly to Peter. He rebuked the plans that Peter had, realizing that these plans were from Satan, and He spoke so very seriously (vs. 23).
Peter had just recognized Jesus as the Messiah, yet here he forsook God’s perspective, and evaluated the situation from a human one. Peter was being a mouthpiece for Satan. Jesus’ death on the cross was part of God’s sovereign plan. He had come with the express purpose of dying as an atonement for sin. Those who would thwart His mission were doing Satan’s work. All denial of the Savior’s death for atonement of sin is of Satan, and Peter was being used by him.
After Jesus rebuked the words that came from Satan through the mouth of Peter, He turned to the rest and gave them some very important words, words that spoke of His determination to follow God’s will, which is what His disciples need to do, as well (vs. 24-25). Jesus told us that if we are going to follow Him, we need to take up our cross each day. Condemned criminals had to carry their cross through the streets to the execution site. Following Jesus means a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back. We take up the cross of Jesus any time we suffer in some way for identifying with Him and His cause. It might mean affliction or persecution. It could also be denying what we desire in order to do the will of God. Real discipleship implies real commitment.
There is nothing more important than the soul, because our soul is eternal (vs. 26). This life is just an introduction to eternity. How we live our brief time determines our eternal state. What we accumulate on earth has no value in purchasing eternal life, which no one can do. There is judgment and reward for both the saved and unsaved (vs. 27). One leads to heaven, the other to hell. If someone ends up in hell, there is nothing that they can buy back their soul from hell with.
If we are being persecuted for Jesus, we can take comfort in His words in Matthew 5:10-12. Jesus tells those who are persecuted for His sake that they are blessed, and that their reward in heaven will be great. Will we still follow Jesus if He leads us down a road of sacrifice, self-denial, suffering, or even death?
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