Reflection question: Peter really struggles with what Jesus says about the reality that he will die and then rise again. Peter doesn't want to believe that could be true.
Jesus then says, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ - Why does Jesus say this? What do you think Peter was thinking in that moment?
I think Peter was focusing on the early friend and Messiah that was to save the Jewish world. I too stuggled when my Dad was dying. I wanted him to stay with us, but knew that it was only more pain and suffering for him in this world and that he was ready to go home to be with Jesus. Early on when he got his terminal diagnosis he was in tears and I asked him if he was scared if dying. He told me no I am not scared of death, just the pain I may have to go through to get there. When he was close to the end one night and his hands were loosing their sensation he asked what that was about. I told him that he was getting close the end and he says to me. "Oh, well that wasn't so bad then." The last days when he was unresponsive he would still mouth the Lord's Prayer with the pastor. My Dad was an amazing witness to a life of faith. God is amazing and with us though out our earthly journeys. Praise God.
ReplyDeletePeter embodies the true human experience. We as humans are reflected in Peter. We always default to our human ways and patterns of thinking and reacting to situations. I think Peter wasn't able to wrap his mind around Jesus' future suffering and death and resurrection. I see myself in Peter in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI think it was because it was Satan that Jesus was talking to. In other words, it was his own human [sinner] person that Jesus was talking to. I, too, see myself as Peter.
ReplyDelete