And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
– Mark 8:32a
One of the greatest understatements in our vernacular is the phrase “God’s ways are not our ways.” It is a reference to Isaiah 55:8-9, where the prophet speaks for God saying, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” There have been many times in my life when God has chosen a strategy different than my own. Naturally I always think my strategy is the best. As you might expect, God’s strategies consistently surpass my expectations.
When we last saw Jesus and the disciples they were in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Peter had just made his landmark confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. It was a moment of clarity that was crucial for the disciples as they were being drawn further into God’s plan for their lives. With that confession they had one essential piece of information, but they needed two. The disciples now understood who Jesus was, but they also needed to understand what that meant. They had an idea of what that meant, but it became quickly evident that they were wrong. And once again, Peter was the spokesperson.
Often when we hear scripture telling us that Peter rebuked Jesus, we think, “Wow, Peter, that takes guts!” Yes, taking a corrective tone with Jesus seems pretty bold. It is difficult for me to imagine myself doing it. Still, one can hardly blame Peter for being rather passionate about his response. What Jesus was telling them was far from what they expected to hear, especially just after declaring Jesus to be the Son of God. So what was Jesus telling the disciples that got Peter sideways? It was the second essential piece of information they needed, namely the implications of being the Son of God.
The Bible tells us it was at this point that Jesus began telling his disciples how his ministry would culminate. In the weeks ahead he would suffer at the hands of the Jewish leaders, he would be crucified, and he would rise again on the third day. (Observe that he included the part about the resurrection, although it appears they didn’t hear that part very well.) Jesus had not previously given them much of a hint regarding the trajectory of his life. Now, though, he was stating the matter plainly to them. On one hand we could contend that Jesus suffering and dying at the hands of detractors would not be a total surprise. He had already experienced notable resistance from the Jewish leaders. Still, it makes little sense that God’s Messiah would meet a suffering death. Peter wasn’t ready to swallow it, and I suspect your reaction and mine would have been the same as his.
This is where the lofty ways of God distance themselves from human thinking. If we were writing the script, we would have Jesus on a majestic stallion riding in triumph over his adversaries. In other words, we would script a victorious Jesus. In God’s script Jesus is riding a lowly beast of burden, which is actually quite fitting given that he was about to carry the greatest load ever—the load of humanity’s sin. But the disciples didn’t know that part yet. They couldn’t see that God was doing something far more Kingdom-worthy than running some military oppressors out of the land. They couldn’t comprehend that the victory to be won would come through a demonstration of humility and self-sacrifice.
Jesus did a huge favor for the disciples that day by giving them clarity about his journey. Sure, it was hard for Peter to embrace in the moment. It is no less difficult for us at those times when God’s vision unfolds before us and we feel like rebuking God because our minds are set on our own ways. The draw toward our own way is strong. It takes much grace for us to relinquish and pray, “Lord, show us your will, and make it our will. Set our minds on the things of the Kingdom.” May it be so.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 