Peter’s Great Confusion
TRANSLATION
(21) From then on Jesus began explaining to his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised (from the dead). (22) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, “No way, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (23) But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me, for you do not have in mind the will of God but only human concerns.”
(24) Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it. (26) For what profit would it be if someone were to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul, or what would anyone give in exchange for his soul? (27) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (28) Truly I say to you, there are some that stand here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus had already been tempted by Satan three times in the wilderness to step off God’s path of suffering and sacrifice. Once again, through the protests of Peter, Satan tried to divert the Savior from the way of suffering that would ultimately lead to the cross. Again, Christ resisted and overcame the tempter. In addition to the name, “Jesus” (vss. 21 & 24), two messianic titles are found in this segment: “Lord” (vs. 22) and “Son of Man” (vss. 27 & 28). Repeated words included “disciples” (vss. 21 & 24), “Peter” (vss. 22 & 23), “things” (both in vs. 23), “lose/loses” (both in vs. 25), “life” (both in vs. 25), “soul” (both in vs. 26), and three occurrences of “come/coming” (vss. 24, 27, & 28).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus foretold his death and resurrection and then rebuked Peter for his “satanic” response. (21-23)
II. Jesus assured his disciples that if they chose to follow him on the path of self-denial, they would enjoy great rewards. (24-28)
IDEA STATEMENT
After rebuking Peter for his satanically inspired rejection of the suffering and death he would have to endure, Jesus called his disciples to follow him on the path of self-denial.
APPLICATION
It is remarkable that the Lord within such a short time would both commend Peter for being a spokesman for the Father in his confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (vs. 17), and condemn him for functioning as a mouthpiece for Satan in denying that Jesus would have to suffer and die before being raised to life on the third day (vs. 22 & 23). This gave Jesus the opportunity to warn his disciples that following a suffering Savior would inevitably require self-denial and eventual death. Paul would later describe himself in the following terms: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Jesus also promised his disciples great rewards for faithfulness when he someday returns as our glorified Lord.