We concluded yesterday's study with Simon Peter declaring to Jesus, "You are the Messiah." Now that Jesus' identity is becoming real to the disciples, Jesus begins preparing them for His death.
After Peter makes his declaration of faith, "Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him." (Mark 8:30) Matthew puts it this way, "Then He ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah." (Matthew 16:20) Why does Jesus warn the disciples not to publish this information publicly? For one thing, what the people of Jesus' day are looking for in a Messiah is a political powerhouse, someone the majority of the nation's citizens can get behind, a man who can inspire a successful uprising against Rome. This is not Jesus' mission on earth. If the disciples start shouting, "Jesus is the Messiah!" on the street corners, those who desire political freedom will begin joining forces and calling upon the people to declare Jesus the king of Israel and to rise up against the Roman government. At that point Jesus and the disciples could be arrested for leading a rebellion and executed for sedition. Jesus must go to the cross with no legitimate charges against Him. His accusers must be unable to prove any wrong in Him. Pontius Pilate must be able to find no fault in Him. He is innocent, and when capital punishment is carried out against Him, the only charge that will hang above his head will be these words, "The King Of The Jews". He will not be crucified because of any crime, but because of who He is.
For another thing, Jesus still has much to accomplish in His ministry. It is not yet time to go to His death. He will begin preparing the disciples for His death, but it must come at the proper time. If the disciples begin publishing His true identity far and wide, they will hasten His execution. After the following things take place, then the disciples will be free to tell the whole world that Jesus Christ is Lord. "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." (Mark 8:21) The gospel message is not complete until Jesus is killed and until He rises from the grave. Then will be the time to preach the good news of the gospel to the world.
Peter is not happy about the turn the conversation has taken. He has just recognized Jesus as the Promised One and he doesn't want to hear anything about rejection and execution. Jesus, because He loves the disciples, has to be honest about what is going to take place, and Mark tells us, "He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke him." (Mark 8:32) Matthew tells us exactly what Peter says, "'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to You!'" (Matthew 16:22) Peter's feelings are understandable. In fact, he's being led solely by his feelings right now. Jesus has just explained in detail why His death and resurrection must occur. These things have been foretold by the prophets of old. These things are God's will for Him. But Peter, because of his love for Jesus, can't stand the thought of the death of the man who is his friend, his rabbi, and his Lord. Peter is willing to leave God's will undone if it means Jesus won't have to die. Peter's feelings are understandable, but they are wrong, and they have allowed Satan to gain an advantage over him as evidenced by what Jesus says next.
"But when Jesus turned and looked at the disciples, He rebuked Peter. "'Get behind Me, Satan!' He said. 'You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'" (Mark 8:33) Matthew, one of the Twelve who witnessed this event, adds that Jesus also said to the devil, "You are a stumbling block to Me." (Matthew 16:23) Jesus speaks directly to the one responsible for Peter's impassioned rejection of the idea of the cross. He knows Peter loves him, but He also knows Satan is using Peter's love to tempt Him to avoid the cross and go for the crown.
During Jesus' lifetime Satan is always working to entice Him to abandon God's plan for the salvation of mankind and instead accept man's plan for the salvation of the nation. If Jesus had decided to forego the cross, He could indeed have used His supernatural powers to become the king of Israel. He could have been accepted as Messiah and He could have led a successful rebellion against Rome. He could have restored political sovereignty to His people. He could have ruled over them from David's throne. But in David's own prophetic writings we see the heart of Jesus made plain, for in one of the Messianic psalms we find Jesus saying, "Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come---it is written about Me in the scroll. I desire to do Your will, My God; Your law is within My heart." (Psalm 40:7-8) Jesus has come to do God's will. Though His flesh feels the pull of the easy path, His spirit is steadfast. The prophet Isaiah foresaw the suffering of Jesus, but he also foresaw Jesus' resolute attitude toward accomplishing the Father's will, "Because the Sovereign Lord helps Me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50:7)
Jesus hears Peter's words. He feels the temptation to skip the crown of thorns to wear the crown of gold. But then He turns and looks at the disciples and His resolve is strengthened. He loves the Twelve. He loves every human being ever created. If He avoids His own death, He condemns the world. Love is more compelling than the siren song of Satan. Jesus sets His face like flint and says to that deceiver of old, "Get behind Me, Satan! You will not get between Me and the cross!"
Below is a link to a song often used during the Christmas season, and it plainly states why Jesus went to the cross: He did it for love. He did it because He loves you and me.
Love Came For Me
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