16th February 2012 Mark 8:27-33

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”  Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death
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. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  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.”

It must have been so hard for the disciples to hear from Jesus that he would die.  There would have been sadness and disbelief and fear.  No wonder Peter tried to tell Jesus that it could be otherwise; I would have done.  

And what a response Jesus gave; it seems so completely out of proportion.  This speaks to me of his own fear and how hard it was for Jesus to know his fate; he needed to stay strong and did not want to be talked out of it.

Do we notice when we are being talked out of God's work?  Do we have strong and Godly guides along side us?

Jesus you gave yourself entirely despite your fears; give us some of your strength as we go about your work today.