Get Behind Me, Satan!

What would you do if Jesus said to you, ‘Get behind me Satan!’ That’s what he said to Peter, one of his disciples. Why did Jesus address Peter as Satan, as the devil? To figure it out, let’s take a look at the passage in Matthew that contains this famous denunciation

jesus said to peter, ‘Get behind me, satan!’

Will we hear Jesus say, Get behind me, satan?

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:21-23 NIV

Good intentions…

Peter could be brash and belligerent at times, but I believe he loved Jesus and meant well. His words above sprang from strong emotions and good intentions. Peter wanted what he thought was best for his Lord. But he had no clue when it came to God’s plan. His strong emotions did not account for Jesus’ mission on earth because Jesus had to die or Peter and all of us would have had no basis for salvation.

…may lead to bad outcomes

Jesus’ mission took every ounce of energy and discipline he had, so any hint of giving in, of human weakness, could only cause trouble. By trying to prevent Jesus from suffering pain and death, Peter interfered with God’s plan and that’s why Jesus rebuked him. That’s why Jesus said, “Get behind me.”

Like me, or maybe even you, Peter knew nothing about God’s plan.
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Now, we should not judge Peter. After all, he was only human like us. Naturally he wanted to prevent Jesus from suffering. He wanted to take away all pain. But God decreed that Jesus had to endure pain and unimaginable suffering. That was His mission on earth.

In Peter’s understandable desire to help Jesus avoid death, his human emotions served the devil, not God.

What’s the lesson for us?

Peter’s misplaced human love and emotion caused him to discourage Jesus from being obedient to God. Peter’s words were not of God, but of Satan himself.

We have to be very careful not to dissuade someone from taking a stand for God, or for making a change that could seem foolish or embarrassing to us.