31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Devotional
This then is the immediate follow up to Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, (Mark 8:29) the long awaited for Messiah that Jews looked for in great anticipation of His coming and through His Person and Reign their emancipation. Nonetheless Jesus not wanting to be exalted at this time not only forbids His disciples open declaration of His Person as the Messiah (Mark 8:30), but knowing that they had come to believe in His Person as the Messiah begins telling them what will happen to Him. That He would be rejected “…by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” vs. 31 All which must have been very troubling to them given that the common understanding was that the Messiah was to bring His Deliverance then immediately set up His Kingdom Reign. Nonetheless Jesus’ Words are fully in accord with what Daniel the prophet foretold would happen to the Messiah (Dan. 9:25-26), even before any such Reign would take place (Psalm 2; 110; Isaiah 32:1-8; 61:1-3 etc.). Therefore Jesus the Messiah (or Christ) as the suffering Servant of God would have to be fulfilled before anything else could happen (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). For it would be through the crucifixion death of the Christ (Psalm 22) that salvation would not only come to the Jews, but also to the entire world.
Now this will be a stumbling block to most Jews (Rom. 9:30-33), yet this is according to the Word of God; for they could not fathom their Messiah who will rule on the throne of King David over the whole world, crucified. Yet it was to be through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death that God would bring everlasting victory over sin, Satan and death and thus it was according to the predetermined counsels of God that Jesus Christ was to be betrayed by Israel’s leaders (Acts 2:14-40, vs. 23). So that salvation could come to the Gentiles (Romans chapters 9-11). Upon which when the fullness of Gentiles is complete God will open Israel’s eyes to see Jesus as the Christ. Therefore with the disciples understanding of who Jesus is, Jesus begins to foretell them of His rejection as Messiah and betrayal by Israel’s elders, chief priests and scribes and thus it would be they who would hand Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Though it must be unequivocally stated that Jesus Christ’s death is the result of our sins; not just theirs. They merely are the agents by which God fulfills His redemption plans for everyone who believes. By allowing them to execute their own evil desires God fulfills His Word about the Christ. Now within Jesus Christ’s Words is the promise of three days after His death He would rise from the dead. On which all that follows His crucifixion hangs, for if Christ does not rise from the dead to new and everlasting life then neither can anyone else (1 Cor. 15:12-19). That foundation of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion than resurrection is what salvation hinges on. Yet only the twelve are privileged to hear Jesus’ foretelling of His own resurrection from the dead at this point; a resurrection that would make Jesus Christ afterwards, not only God’s victorious King, who vanquished even death (Hosea 13:14 1 Cor. 15:54-55) but Jesus Christ having the Preeminence in all things must be (and now is) the firstborn amongst many brethren (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). So that all who believe in Him will likewise rise from dead to new and everlasting life. That is the gospel’s promise new and everlasting life to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead (Eph. 1:13-14). Now seated on High with His Eternal Majesty and Power waiting till God the Father places all His enemies under His feet (Psalm 110:1 Matt. 22:44 Heb. 1:14).
Therefore Jesus Christ’s reign as King would be in stages, first beginning in the believing individual human heart as the Lord Jesus Christ said: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 The Holy Spirit being the Person of God who brings the King and His Kingdom into everyone who believes, in whatever generation they believe. Then at the end of the ages is Jesus Christ’s millennial Kingdom Reign as the Jews anticipated the Priest/King (Messiah) would do on earth on King David’s throne (Zechariah 6:12-13) in the millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40:1-42:20), with a return to observing the Feast of Tabernacles, by which Israel is tested and purified (Zechariah 14:16-20).
As well all the saints down through the ages who will be beheaded for their witness for the Lord Jesus Christ will serve and reign with Him a thousand years during His earthly Reign before Jesus’ finial death blow to Satan and his forces. Something that God Promised back in Genesis with the fall of mankind through Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:15). Then comes the judgment of the unregenerate (Rev. 20), before God’s Eternal Reign where perfected Jews and Gentiles eternally live with God in His Love and Peace forever (1 Cor. 15:20-28). That is a brief summary of some prophetic events (some of which still remain to unfold) from the vantage point of which Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Though Jesus’ emphasis now is on His crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead for believing that one will enter into eternal life (John 5:24-30). The Scripture also says that Jesus spoke these things openly to the disciples. Yet when He had done so Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him (vs. 32), saying “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Matt. 16:22 “But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:33
Clearly Peter in doing so was not discerning properly that the Christ must first die and then rise three days later, but was trying to dissuade Jesus from the very plan of redemption that would save both him and those who would believe in and confess Jesus Christ as Lord afterwards. Therefore Peter has gone from being the first of the disciples to openly and in faith confess Jesus as the Christ or Messiah to now trying to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His purposes as the Messiah. Therefore Jesus’ rebuke here of Peter is immediate and arguably His strongest. Jesus doesn’t mince words with Peter. For without Jesus’ death on the cross the whole world would’ve been condemned. Satan’s subtle use of Peter before this crucial event is fulfilled must never be overlooked by us. Jesus’ Words then “For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” must be seriously heeded by us when we give or receive counsel, for we too can inadvertently detract someone from doing the will of God for their lives if we measure their circumstances by carnal means, as Peter did. And that is what Jesus will warn us all of next, of trying to save our lives, rather than losing them for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake. As He takes this very troubling example of our natural susceptibilities and turns it into a warning for everyone (Mark 8:36-9:1).
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Devotional
This then is the immediate follow up to Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, (Mark 8:29) the long awaited for Messiah that Jews looked for in great anticipation of His coming and through His Person and Reign their emancipation. Nonetheless Jesus not wanting to be exalted at this time not only forbids His disciples open declaration of His Person as the Messiah (Mark 8:30), but knowing that they had come to believe in His Person as the Messiah begins telling them what will happen to Him. That He would be rejected “…by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” vs. 31 All which must have been very troubling to them given that the common understanding was that the Messiah was to bring His Deliverance then immediately set up His Kingdom Reign. Nonetheless Jesus’ Words are fully in accord with what Daniel the prophet foretold would happen to the Messiah (Dan. 9:25-26), even before any such Reign would take place (Psalm 2; 110; Isaiah 32:1-8; 61:1-3 etc.). Therefore Jesus the Messiah (or Christ) as the suffering Servant of God would have to be fulfilled before anything else could happen (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). For it would be through the crucifixion death of the Christ (Psalm 22) that salvation would not only come to the Jews, but also to the entire world.
Now this will be a stumbling block to most Jews (Rom. 9:30-33), yet this is according to the Word of God; for they could not fathom their Messiah who will rule on the throne of King David over the whole world, crucified. Yet it was to be through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death that God would bring everlasting victory over sin, Satan and death and thus it was according to the predetermined counsels of God that Jesus Christ was to be betrayed by Israel’s leaders (Acts 2:14-40, vs. 23). So that salvation could come to the Gentiles (Romans chapters 9-11). Upon which when the fullness of Gentiles is complete God will open Israel’s eyes to see Jesus as the Christ. Therefore with the disciples understanding of who Jesus is, Jesus begins to foretell them of His rejection as Messiah and betrayal by Israel’s elders, chief priests and scribes and thus it would be they who would hand Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Though it must be unequivocally stated that Jesus Christ’s death is the result of our sins; not just theirs. They merely are the agents by which God fulfills His redemption plans for everyone who believes. By allowing them to execute their own evil desires God fulfills His Word about the Christ. Now within Jesus Christ’s Words is the promise of three days after His death He would rise from the dead. On which all that follows His crucifixion hangs, for if Christ does not rise from the dead to new and everlasting life then neither can anyone else (1 Cor. 15:12-19). That foundation of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion than resurrection is what salvation hinges on. Yet only the twelve are privileged to hear Jesus’ foretelling of His own resurrection from the dead at this point; a resurrection that would make Jesus Christ afterwards, not only God’s victorious King, who vanquished even death (Hosea 13:14 1 Cor. 15:54-55) but Jesus Christ having the Preeminence in all things must be (and now is) the firstborn amongst many brethren (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). So that all who believe in Him will likewise rise from dead to new and everlasting life. That is the gospel’s promise new and everlasting life to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead (Eph. 1:13-14). Now seated on High with His Eternal Majesty and Power waiting till God the Father places all His enemies under His feet (Psalm 110:1 Matt. 22:44 Heb. 1:14).
Therefore Jesus Christ’s reign as King would be in stages, first beginning in the believing individual human heart as the Lord Jesus Christ said: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 The Holy Spirit being the Person of God who brings the King and His Kingdom into everyone who believes, in whatever generation they believe. Then at the end of the ages is Jesus Christ’s millennial Kingdom Reign as the Jews anticipated the Priest/King (Messiah) would do on earth on King David’s throne (Zechariah 6:12-13) in the millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40:1-42:20), with a return to observing the Feast of Tabernacles, by which Israel is tested and purified (Zechariah 14:16-20).
As well all the saints down through the ages who will be beheaded for their witness for the Lord Jesus Christ will serve and reign with Him a thousand years during His earthly Reign before Jesus’ finial death blow to Satan and his forces. Something that God Promised back in Genesis with the fall of mankind through Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:15). Then comes the judgment of the unregenerate (Rev. 20), before God’s Eternal Reign where perfected Jews and Gentiles eternally live with God in His Love and Peace forever (1 Cor. 15:20-28). That is a brief summary of some prophetic events (some of which still remain to unfold) from the vantage point of which Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Though Jesus’ emphasis now is on His crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead for believing that one will enter into eternal life (John 5:24-30). The Scripture also says that Jesus spoke these things openly to the disciples. Yet when He had done so Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him (vs. 32), saying “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Matt. 16:22 “But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:33
Clearly Peter in doing so was not discerning properly that the Christ must first die and then rise three days later, but was trying to dissuade Jesus from the very plan of redemption that would save both him and those who would believe in and confess Jesus Christ as Lord afterwards. Therefore Peter has gone from being the first of the disciples to openly and in faith confess Jesus as the Christ or Messiah to now trying to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His purposes as the Messiah. Therefore Jesus’ rebuke here of Peter is immediate and arguably His strongest. Jesus doesn’t mince words with Peter. For without Jesus’ death on the cross the whole world would’ve been condemned. Satan’s subtle use of Peter before this crucial event is fulfilled must never be overlooked by us. Jesus’ Words then “For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” must be seriously heeded by us when we give or receive counsel, for we too can inadvertently detract someone from doing the will of God for their lives if we measure their circumstances by carnal means, as Peter did. And that is what Jesus will warn us all of next, of trying to save our lives, rather than losing them for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake. As He takes this very troubling example of our natural susceptibilities and turns it into a warning for everyone (Mark 8:36-9:1).
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
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