From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? (Matthew 16:21-26, NRSV)
I love this verse!
Jesus said to Peter, “ὀπίσω μου,” Which is get behind me…
But do you realize that Jesus said this same phrase to at least 4 men earlier in the gospel of Matthew?
“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”” (Matthew 4:19)
The call of the disciples which is seen as a nice gesture of invitation to follow Jesus or walk along side Him is actually the same words used when Jesus rebukes Peter for not understanding his place…
You see with Jesus it really is God’s way or the highway, and you can not have it your way… Jesus is not Burger King.
And that is what being a disciple is all about. Following Jesus. If you can’t see the back of Jesus’ head, you are in the wrong place! It is about knowing our place, and that is not leader, but follower. If we do not understand, that is fine, but we still need to do as God is telling us. We are not in control and our way is not better.
So know your place, but know when you are there that Jesus loves you and walks with you through everything we will face.
aSacredRebel 