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Jesus rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan"!
SERMON – 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 8th March 2009
Revd. Canon David Pickering
Mark 8.33
Jesus rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan!"
As we move through Lent we get closer to the Cross. So it is quite natural to find reference, or as in this morning's gospel reading, actual predictions of what ordeal lay ahead for Jesus.
Mark's gospel predicts the passion three times in relatively quick succession. Here, this morning, in Mark 8.31, then in 9.31, but that reading does not occur until a Sunday in the middle of September, and finally, in 10. 33-34, which does not have a place in our Church Lectionary.
Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
The details of these predictions probably owe a lot to later Christian creativity. It is unlikely that Jesus predicted in such detail his own trial and death: if he did, the confusion that we see among his followers when the events actually occurred is hard to explain. Jesus may have seen in a more general way the opposition his ministry was provoking, and may have realised – and said – this could lead to violence and even death. The details here are more likely the product of the early Church taken in hind sight of the events.
Whatever, Jesus said; this was too much for the impetuous Peter. He was having none of it.
In the previous verse before this morning's gospel reading Peter has had the clear insight, with his Petrine confession, 'You are the Messiah'. For it all to come to a sad end was not the lot of the one who is the Messiah. So Peter feels he must rebuke Jesus, and in return is rebuked with the famous words "Get behind me, Satan!"
We can probably consider these words as based on firm tradition. It is unlikely that such a negative view of Peter would be invented by later Christians. I suspect they are serious words but spoken almost in jest.
What Jesus is saying, is that it is evil, demonic to deny God's chosen way. Whoever opposes God is Satanic, whoever that person may be.
If God's purpose of love is to be completed and fulfilled then evil will oppose it, and the conflict between the goodness of love and evil can only bring suffering.
At the Lent Group last Thursday evening we were considering how Jesus took the purpose of God to the cross. This does not mean that it was in the will of God that Jesus should suffer. But when goodness is confronted with evil there suffering is bound to occur. Jesus being the very personification and perfection of God's love and goodness in human terms was bound to suffer if he was to live out the will of God.
But despite the suffering God's will and purpose does win through in the end. The resurrection assures of this.
In this morning's Old Testament reading, we heard how Abram's name was changed to Abraham to fulfill the divine purpose. Abram means 'exalted ancestor.' That is looking back to what he has been. Now God wants to look forward and changes his name to Abraham, which means 'ancestor of a multitude'. We in the Judeo- Christian tradition are part of that multitude.
God's will and purpose is being worked out in the children of Abraham.
Writing to the Church at Rome, in our Second Reading this morning, Paul says that God's purpose can and is being worked out in the most impossible of situations. Although old and beyond producing descendants Abraham believed God's promise and so did not thwart the will and purpose of God.
Peter, tried to, and was reprimanded.
As we go through Lent, we are called to look at the ways in which the will and purpose of God is thwarted in our lives.
Where do we need to say to ourselves, "Get behind me Satan!"
Where is God's love and goodness missing in our lives?
It may help us if we can be clear about what we mean when we speak of the will and purpose of God.
When we recite the Lord's Prayer, it so easy to glibly skip over the words, 'You will be done earth as in heaven,' without recognising the implications, consequences and responsibilities.
We presume God's purposes and ways happen automatically.
Fortunately for us this is generally true. In most of the creative processes of the world and universe God is working his purpose out, despite our interference, hindrance and misuse.
But when it comes to human relationship and affairs, which involve freedom and love, God expects more of us and uses us more fully.
We are free to love, or not; to work for good, or not; to spread joy and happiness, or not; to strive for peace and justice, or not; to show kindness and care, or not – and so the list could go on.
God's will and purpose is for there to be love, goodness, joy, peace, kindness and care in human relationship and in the affairs of the world.
We can choose to go with them, or not. Where we fail we need to say to ourselves, "Get behind me Satan!".
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