Mark 8:33 

New International Version (NIV)

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

For Meditation

Imagine this scene. Jesus is with His disciples on the way to some villages around Caesarea Philippi. He asks the disciples who they think He is. Peter confesses Him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Great confession! Peter earns the badge of honor for receiving direct revelation from the Father of our Lord Jesus (17). His head is swelling, and he becomes bolder. But Jesus warns them to keep a lid on it, and they continue their trekking.

The evening shadows begin to cast and Jesus picks on a very important subject on His earthly agenda. They are going to travel on to Jerusalem where He “must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mk. 8:31). That drops on the disciples like a bomb.

Impetuous Peter takes Jesus to the side and begins to rebuke Him. Remember, he is riding on cloud nine after his famous confession.

“Now wait a minute, Master! Don’t even go there. It is not going to happen. Remember the grand project? The Romans are still ruling, and the Davidic Kingdom must be established. So, don’t even think about it.”

You see how selfish and earthly-minded we are? But Jesus will have none of Peter’s treason. He hears nothing but the Destroyer’s voice, and that incenses Him. He turns and looks at His disciples and sees the ugliness and devastation of sin in their faces, and that draws His holy wrath and rebuke.

“Get behind me, Satan!” He said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (33).

• Do you see what I see in the face of Jesus?
• Do you see the heart of the Master for the sinner?
• Do you feel His commitment to our redemption that sent Him to the Cross?
• Do you taste His Agape Love!
• Do you sense His heart for you?
• What is your response to this love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19)?
• Now, do you love as He does?
• Can you deny yourself for His sake?
• When you forfeit your interest for that of another, do you see how you shine for Jesus?
• Otherwise, what testifies that you are His disciple?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus. Imprint in my heart, your compassionate look at me that moved you to command Satan out of the way for your trip to Calvary for my redemption. May I never forget the love that motivated you. Please help me to love as you do, and to consider the glory of the Father, my highest goal in life. Amen!