The Beautiful Upset: WK1 - TUE
THE MESSIAH WE DIDN'T EXPECT
Mark 8:31-33 (NLT) "Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. 'Get away from me, Satan!' he said. 'You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's perspective.'"
The conversation takes a sharp turn. Peter has just declared Jesus to be the Messiah, and instead of a celebration, Jesus immediately starts talking about suffering, rejection, and death. This is not what anyone signed up for.
"Must suffer." Jesus doesn't say He might suffer or that suffering is one possible path among many. He says He must suffer. It's not an unfortunate detour from His mission, it's the very heart of His mission. The road to the throne goes through the cross. Peter's reaction is completely understandable. He's just confessed Jesus as the promised King, and now Jesus is talking about being killed. In Peter's mind, Messiahs don't die, they conquer. They don't suffer, they reign. They don't get rejected, they get crowned.
So Peter does what any good friend would do: he takes Jesus aside and tries to talk some sense into Him. "Jesus, this is crazy talk. You're the Messiah. You're supposed to overthrow the Romans, not get killed by them. You're supposed to establish the kingdom, not die on a cross."
But Jesus' response is shocking: "Get away from me, Satan!" These are some of the harshest words Jesus ever spoke to a disciple. Why such a strong reaction to what seems like a caring friend trying to protect Him?
Because Peter's perspective represents the fundamental temptation Jesus faced throughout His ministry: the temptation to be the Messiah people wanted instead of the Messiah the world needed. The temptation to choose an easier path, a more popular approach, a crown without a cross. Jesus calls it "seeing things merely from a human point of view." From a human perspective, power comes through dominance, victory through violence, and success through self-preservation. But God's perspective is radically different. In God's kingdom, power comes through service, victory through sacrifice, and success through surrender.
Mark 8:31-33 (NLT) "Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. 'Get away from me, Satan!' he said. 'You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's perspective.'"
The conversation takes a sharp turn. Peter has just declared Jesus to be the Messiah, and instead of a celebration, Jesus immediately starts talking about suffering, rejection, and death. This is not what anyone signed up for.
"Must suffer." Jesus doesn't say He might suffer or that suffering is one possible path among many. He says He must suffer. It's not an unfortunate detour from His mission, it's the very heart of His mission. The road to the throne goes through the cross. Peter's reaction is completely understandable. He's just confessed Jesus as the promised King, and now Jesus is talking about being killed. In Peter's mind, Messiahs don't die, they conquer. They don't suffer, they reign. They don't get rejected, they get crowned.
So Peter does what any good friend would do: he takes Jesus aside and tries to talk some sense into Him. "Jesus, this is crazy talk. You're the Messiah. You're supposed to overthrow the Romans, not get killed by them. You're supposed to establish the kingdom, not die on a cross."
But Jesus' response is shocking: "Get away from me, Satan!" These are some of the harshest words Jesus ever spoke to a disciple. Why such a strong reaction to what seems like a caring friend trying to protect Him?
Because Peter's perspective represents the fundamental temptation Jesus faced throughout His ministry: the temptation to be the Messiah people wanted instead of the Messiah the world needed. The temptation to choose an easier path, a more popular approach, a crown without a cross. Jesus calls it "seeing things merely from a human point of view." From a human perspective, power comes through dominance, victory through violence, and success through self-preservation. But God's perspective is radically different. In God's kingdom, power comes through service, victory through sacrifice, and success through surrender.
- Where do you find yourself wanting Jesus to work in more "human" ways in your life?
- How do you respond when God's methods don't match your expectations?
- What would it look like to embrace "God's perspective" on a current challenge you're facing?
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