Mark 8:31 He then 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.
Commentary tells us that a suffering Messiah was unthinkable. It was counter to all ideas of who the Messiah would be and what He would do. And, honestly, I can understand. The Savior of the world is going to be defeated? To die? I can see why Peter, who just proclaimed Jesus the Messiah, would pull Him aside and rebuke Him. It’s not right.
Mark 8:32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are beyond anything we can imagine (Is 55:8). And instead of a warrior Messiah who would annihilate the Romans in battle and rule supreme in government, He sent Jesus to die for our sins, to be buried, to rise again after three days, to ascend into Heaven so that He could conquer sin and death forever. Thank You, Jesus.
Mark 8:33 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.”
Precious Savior, Your ways are truly beyond anything we can imagine. Forgive us our lack of vision and understanding. Help us not to limit You with our earth-bound imaginations. Thank You for who You are, the Messiah, Savior of the world. Thank You. Amen.
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Have a blessed day.