Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Passage: Matthew 16:13-17:13
Focus: “Get behind me Satan!” Matthew 16:23.
Contained in this small reading, Jesus gives two opposite charges to Peter. The first is very positive…when Peter gives the right answer as to who Jesus is…the Messiah. Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). The second is very negative…about as negative as you can get. When Jesus disclosed that He was headed for major suffering and death in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish leaders, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him saying, in so many words, “As long as I’m around, this ain’t gonna happen!” Jesus’ reply was, “Get behind me, Satan!” Wow! That had to rattle Peter’s cage to the core!
I see here further evidence for the two kingdoms in conflict? The Kingdom of God imparts the revelation of Truth to the seeking human heart. The kingdom of Satan imparts deception and distortion to the heart that resists Truth in any way. Jesus recognized and identified the kingdom source of Peter’s expressions. The first was with commendation. The second was with rebuke and warning.
That which caused Peter to choke so long ago is the same matter that causes many to choke today. It has to do with the cross…”the emblem of suffering and shame.” It’s also the emblem of surrender to Christ’s Lordship and will. Jesus laid it on the line in terms that cannot be misunderstood: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (16:24).
It’s interesting to me that Jesus is here making reference to the cross as a symbol of self-denial before He was crucified on one. It would indicate that Jesus was bearing the cross in essence before He bore the cross in reality. So the cross is really an essential life-giving attitude of heart. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (16:25). It’s a paradox to live by.