Get Thee Behind Me Satan...

by Aubrey Belue

Full of enthusiasm and passion, devoted to his Lord, willing to “take a chance”, you’ve got to love Peter. But Peter made some big mistakes! Seeing himself as the Lord’s protector, anxious to prove his love, quick to jump to His defense, humble to make correction when wrong, sometimes too confident in his own abilities, sometimes too ready to inject his own notions into God’s plan -- we identify with him, because we see a lot of “us” in him.

In fact, our usual thinking is to “go easy” on him, because his “boo boos” were matters of the head, and not of the heart. Even here (Matt 16:21-23) his mistake came from his great love for Jesus. (After all, “loving God” is the “main” thing, and God’s grace covers your imperfections if you do.)

Jesus did not go easy on Peter! At this moment, the Lord identified him with His “Adversary”, and reacted accordingly. Would “Satan” be welcome in heaven? Why did Jesus react so strongly? Because, in effect, Peter was challenging God’s own plan. For God, Jesus had to die… To Peter, “Lord, be it not so unto Thee”…He looked at it as men do, and questioned God’s wisdom and will. Setting aside the logical disconnect – Peter had just finished confessing that Jesus was the Son of God (who cannot die) – in that moment, because his way (the “things of men”) was contrary to God’s way, Peter “stood on the other side” (Obadiah 1:11)! Attitude did not enter into it! Jesus did not judge his intentions, but what came out of his mouth. Do you imagine he regards us any differently, or lets our intentions override the plain truth? Later, Jesus indicated He could not use Peter, until he was “converted” - Lk 22:31.

 

Other Articles by Aubrey Belue
Two Visions of the Church
The Exculpatory Rule
It's Not How You Feel
Concerning the Clarification and Other Matters