The disciples have just
affirmed that they recognise Jesus as Messiah. Peter is the one who has voiced
those words. It would appear that the disciple core group is gaining an
understanding of Jesus’ role. So, Jesus begins to teach them something of what
will happen. The journey ahead is not going to be smooth. He talks of hurt and
pain and suffering.
The result is a reversal of
the indication that they understood. Peter again speaks up on behalf of the
group. Peter tells Jesus to take a different view. He is presumably bringing a
traditional view of Messiahship to bear on the situation. The Messiah was
understood to be a conquering hero. Suffering, rejection and death were not on
the agenda.
Jesus, in an unexpectedly harsh
and over-stated response, sees Peter’s comments as a temptation towards the
wrong route. Get behind me, Satan! It is not what we expect Jesus to say
to Peter, but the situation echoes the struggle of the temptations, and should
be seen as an indicator of the way of the Kingdom, rather than a brutal
criticism of Peter. Peter has understood something special and important, but
there is a serious failing in his overall understanding. Yet Peter’s stance is
surely intended as an expression of support.
It reminds us that our
perspective may also be lacking and gives us some encouragement when we get
things wrong. As Brendan Byrne (A Costly Freedom) suggests
– “The fact that a disciple (Peter) who has just got something so splendidly
right (the confession of Jesus as Messiah) straightaway stumbles so badly at
the thought of suffering can be an encouragement: a recognition in the gospels
that we all do badly at suffering. Each fresh trial that comes our way may be
an invitation into this scene, to hear Jesus’ command “Get behind me . . .” as
a call to a closer, more “enlightened” following of him along “the way.””
No comments:
Post a Comment