In one of Jesus’ conversations with His closest followers he asked, “Who do people say I am?”  They had several answers, then He asked, “Who do you say I am?”

Peter – one of Christ’s closest and most dynamic followers said: “You are the Christ.”  Peter was saying that Jesus was the one who had been prophesied about – the Messiah – the Annointed One – the Son of God – the Savior come from God. 

Peter was right, but catch this.   Mark 8:31-32  says:  31 Then Jesus began to tell them that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again. 32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and told him he shouldn’t say things like that.  

Read vs 32 again.  Peter just said that Jesus was the Christ, and now he’s trying to school Jesus on what’s right to say and do!

Jesus’ reply is pretty strong!  Mark 8:33 says:  Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, “Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” 

Peter, Satan has influenced you and you don’t even know it!  Your mindset is wrong.  You’re seeing things from your own point of view instead of God’s.

How often are we guilty of this?  A word of wisdom: Before you make judgements about things, be very careful that you’re not making those judgments from a human point of view instead of God’s. 

It’s easy to question decisions that cost us something and think this isn’t from God.  However, it was God’s desire for Jesus to endure the cross, but His purpose was to provide salvation for us.  Sometimes, the greatest good comes from the greatest suffering.  In addition to this – consider what Jesus said immediately following this enounter with Peter.

34 Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  35 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.  Mark 8:34-35 NLT

Think about it.