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A Hindrance to Christ?
By T.M. Moore
3/28/2007
Right Motive, Wrong Method
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:23)
It’s important to keep in mind that Jesus did not speak these harsh, withering words to the devil himself, but to Peter—on whom, only moments before, He had lavished such well-deserved praise. The same one who had boldly confessed Him as Christ and Son of the living God, the one on whose faith, example, and leadership Jesus promised to build His Church—this same one He now rebuked and shamed.
What had Peter done to deserve such denunciation? He had become a hindrance to the Lord Jesus, a stumbling block along the path to glory. And he had done this out of what might seem the best of motives: Peter wanted God’s will for Jesus, and, of course, for himself, the titular head of the Church. His motives seem to have been all right, mostly.
But he hadn’t been paying close attention. Perhaps he was too busy imagining what it would be like to be the chief builder of the Church, the one to whom everyone else looked for direction and comfort. There he would be, right-hand man to the King, making sure everybody knew what they needed to do, and that they did it promptly and efficiently. Yes sir, the days of hard straining to catch fish would be far behind him then. Life would be good in the shalom of the Lord. Doubtless Peter couldn’t resist glancing at the other eleven to see if they were admiring him as much as he was.
But now Jesus was talking about, well, unpleasant things—suffering many things and being killed. Clearly, that wasn’t in Peter’s little daydream about the Lord, the Church, and himself. Well, he must have reasoned, one good demonstration of leadership deserves another. So, just as he had blurted out “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” now Peter made bold to tell this very one, “Mercy, no, Lord. This shall never happen to you!”
And then Jesus’ withering denunciation.
Why was Jesus so brutal in putting Peter in his place? Because the stakes were high, as the stakes are always high when the glory of Christ and the progress of His Kingdom are at issue. For God will glorify His Son, and He will cause His kingdom to make progress on earth, as it is in heaven, but He will do so only on His terms, and not on ours.
Read entire article at http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=6336
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