Rebuking Jesus
Mark 8:31-33

Jesus had clearly laid out what was around the corner. He was going to suffer, be rejected, and be killed. And then he was going to rise again.

I don’t know that Peter heard the “rise again” part. He clearly heard the suffering, rejection, and death. And it clearly frightened him. This wasn’t the future he had foreseen when he confessed Jesus to be the Messiah (Mark 8:29). And he didn’t like it.

That’s what happens when our minds are “set on the things of man.” Human things. You know, our desires, our plans, our glory. Peter saw glory in his future. Jesus saw suffering.

Following Jesus is about following Jesus. Trusting his future and letting go of ours. He knows what must happen. He was there in the beginning. And he will see us through to the end.

By the way, if Peter had won the day, we would still be lost.