Monday, August 25, 2008

Today’s text

Matthew 16:21-23

From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.'

Prayer

‘Not to you; not to my friend.’ This thought is common to us. And it leads to a more gracious treatment of Peter … and of our own hearts.

I have never liked the way Peter is commonly treated in preaching and teaching. Often, Peter does not seem to ‘get it.’ The verses before this story show him understanding who Jesus is--the Christ, the face of the living God. He confesses what only those who dwell in the circle of grace around Jesus can know.

Peter ‘got it,’ but he didn’t understand what he knew, the implication of his confession or the dreadful days that would soon overshadow Jesus and his friends. So Jesus tells them. He doesn’t tell everyone, just those closest, the souls privileged to stand with him as he blessed, healed and taught, those most likely to have glimpsed the heart of eternity within him.

Peter objects, and a million preachers pounce, sensing an easy target for their rhetoric. They denounce him as dense and uncomprehending, but seldom do any savor Peter’s love for his friend. And they seem to have Jesus on their side, for Jesus appears to really give Peter hell. Or is it so simple? How can it be when human beings and emotion are involved?

This is a theological story, revealing what it means for Jesus to be the Son of the Living God, the face of the Eternal Wonder. He must suffer and die, only then can the truly new life in him shine forth in crystal splendor.

But this is a human story, too. Read it with one’s heart and Peter is readily understandable. He loves his friend. He wants never to be separated from the one, from Emmanuel, in whom he knows the nearness of God. He doesn’t understand what is to come. But he knows he wants to be with Jesus. Little wonder that he should say, ‘no, not you, not my friend.’

And he brings his objection to Jesus. He brings his heart and, yes, his incorrect understanding. Jesus knows Peter’s love would turn him from his purpose, which is why Peter’s words represent such a powerful temptation. It arises not from hatred or opposition, but from love, a love that needed to better understand the way of Jesus: new life can come only through the death of the old, through suffering and the cross.

It does us greater good to forgive Peter for his want of clear understanding. We often don’t know what God is doing in our lives either. But we do know that we hunger to be near that love that will never turn from us.

Holy and Gracious One, grant us proper understanding that we may love you aright.

Pr. David L. Miller