Friday 11 July 2008
- Bible Book:
- Mark
"Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things'."
Background
"How could I have got it so wrong?" Blaming 'self' is a terribleburden many people carry but it is a burden made worse when someoneyou love and care for says that to you. This, it appears, is whatJesus, in the harshest possible way, is saying to Peter.
Love not only sees the best in the beloved, it also blinds thelover. The tragedy is played out in the Rolling Stones song Blindedby Love. After referring to Mark Anthony, Samson (
So lovers beware
If you lose your heart
Careful now, don't lose your mind
Don't mortgage your soul to a stranger
Don't be blinded by love
Don't be blinded by love
"Blinded By Love" (M. Jagger/ K. Richards)
(C) 1989 Promopub B.V.
Peter seems the impulsive first disciple who left his netsto follow (
But the disciple could not contemplate life without themaster. Painfully, Jesus had to remind the disciples that Satancomes at us at all times and from all angles. It is inconceivablethat Jesus actually believed that Peter was Satan. It isconceivable however, that as the followers began to fullyappreciate who the Messiah was, they would find it hard tounderstand that it was through death and resurrection thatdeliverance would come.
To Ponder
What might you have said to Jesus if you had beenwatching the scene as a friend of Peter?
Jesus said that he would be "rejected by theelders". It suggests that he would fail to pass their scrutiny ofhim. Is the real issue that Jesus fails to pass our scrutiny orthat we, as individuals or as the Church, fail to pass the scrutinyof God?