In Mark 8:31, Jesus “began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.”
This is a shocking statement for the disciples. Peter had just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God, the one who will restore Israel’s glory and deliverance. They have seen His miracles, His authority, His popularity. They have followed Him with excitement, hope, and anticipation. They have expected Him to be a powerful, victorious, and triumphant leader.
But now, Jesus tells them that He must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again. He tells them that He is not only the Messiah, but also the Son of Man, a title that refers to His humanity, His humility, and His destiny. He tells them that He is fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and Daniel, that He is the suffering servant who will bear the sins of the world, and the glorious king who will rule over the nations. He tells them that He is following God’s will, God’s plan, and God’s purpose for His life.
But Peter does not understand this. He does not accept this. He does not agree with this. Verse 32 says, “He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” Peter thinks that Jesus is making a mistake, that He is being deceived, that He is discouraged. Peter thinks that he knows better than Jesus, that he can correct Him, that he can advise Him. Peter thinks that Jesus is the Messiah who will restore Israel’s glory, not the suffering servant who will die for the sins of the world.
But Jesus does not tolerate this. He does not appreciate this. He does not listen to this. Verse 33 says, “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'” Jesus rebukes Peter and exposes his human perspective. He calls him Satan, a name that means adversary, enemy, or accuser. He tells him that he is not helping Him, but hindering Him, that he is not supporting Him, but opposing Him, that he is not speaking for God, but for the world. He tells him that he is not setting his mind on divine things, but on human things.
Following Jesus involves a cost, a cost that we may not understand, a cost that we may not like, a cost that we may not want. Following Jesus means following His example, His mission, His will, even if it means suffering, rejection, death. Following Jesus means setting our mind on divine things, not on human things, even if it means going against our own desires, plans, and ambitions.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we come before You today, humbled and contrite, recognizing the cost of true discipleship. We acknowledge that following You is not about seeking earthly glory or success, but about embracing a life of humility, suffering, and ultimately, resurrection. We confess that our human desires and ambitions often clash with Your divine will, leading us astray.
We pray for the strength to follow Your example, to take up our cross daily, and to deny ourselves in the pursuit of righteousness. We ask for the wisdom to understand that our sacrifices and sufferings are not in vain, but are part of Your divine plan to redeem the world.
Lord, we are not afraid of the cost of discipleship. We are willing to be rejected, to be misunderstood, and even to be called by names that might hurt us. For we know that in Your eyes, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
We pray for the courage to embrace the suffering servant role You have called us to, to bear the sins of the world, and to be a beacon of hope and redemption. We ask for the grace to fulfill our mission with integrity and passion, trusting in Your promise that those who lose their lives for Your sake will find them.
We commit ourselves to Your service, to live out the paradox of gaining and losing life for Your sake. We pray for the eternal significance of following You faithfully, trusting that our faithfulness will not be in vain.
May Your grace be with us, Lord, as we set our minds on divine things, not on human things. May we be faithful to Your call, even when it means walking a path that is difficult and fraught with challenges.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.
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