The Time Peter Rebuked Jesus
Do you rebuke Jesus too?
It’s impossible to follow Jesus your way.
How do I know that?
Because the apostle Peter found that out the hard way.
When Peter Rebuked Jesus
Peter liked what he had heard from Jesus.
Jesus had asked who the apostles believed He was, and Peter had answered correctly.
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
Jesus pronounced a blessing upon Peter for this response and then said some things that, no doubt, Peter liked to hear.
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar [Son of]-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17-19)
What an honor! Peter would have an important role in the kingdom - the church - of Christ. I’m sure Peter’s ego inflated just a bit after hearing what Jesus said about him, as mine probably would have as well.
However, the Lord began to teach and show His disciples some things that Peter didn’t like. He didn’t like it at all.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Matthew 16:21)
Peter wasn’t so sure about this. Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Surely Jesus must have been mistaken. So Peter did what he thought he needed to do.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22)
Jesus had talked about building His church - His kingdom. It was counterproductive to talk about building your church in one breath and then discuss your death in the next. If Jesus died, how could Peter fulfill his role in the Lord’s kingdom?
Peter felt a rebuke was necessary. Jesus was getting things mixed up.
Jesus responded with one of the sternest rebukes in all of Scripture.
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23)
Talk about sucking all the wind out of Peter’s sails.
He was all excited about his upcoming role in Jesus’ kingdom - and now the Lord has rebuked him by referring to him as “Satan.”
Why?
Because Peter was thinking about his plans and position, he set his mind on his interests and not God’s. Peter had completely overlooked the fact that his interests might be wholly opposed to the interests and will of God.
Do We Rebuke Jesus Today?
If setting the mind on selfish interests could happen to one of Jesus’ apostles, we could surely be guilty of the same thing.
Jesus’ rebuke of Peter shows His suffering, death, and resurrection to be connected to the building of His kingdom - His church. Peter didn’t understand that at the moment, but he would understand it later (read Acts 2).
Jesus told his disciples what was required to follow Him.
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:25)
Jesus said His followers must:
Desire to follow Him.
Deny themselves.
Take up their cross.
Follow Him.
Following Jesus means we must put to death the things we want and submit ourselves to Jesus - because He is the Lord (the Master).
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
If we desire to follow Jesus but try to do things our way - we are essentially rebuking the Lord the same as Peter. We are trying to have a role in Jesus’ church while rebuking the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
“Not so, Lord! Let’s do this my way.”
We cannot follow Jesus and do things our way. Jesus is the Christ, the King, the Son of God. He has all authority (Matthew 28:18).
Excellent reminder lesson to keep me on track.