Satanic Service

"But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind of the things of God, but on the things of man'" (Mark 8:33).

Jesus has just asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter, prompted by the Holy Spirit, gives the right answer, "You are the Christ." Following Peter's proclamation, Jesus begins to teach very plainly about the rejection, trial, crucifixion and resurrection that was soon to come. Jesus didn't follow his usual pattern of speaking in parables, but spoke very directly to his disciples. It is probable the Jesus spoke so plainly on the suffering that he would soon face in order to correct the misunderstandings his disciples had about the Christ. Peter's response to the teaching certainly expresses a deep misunderstanding, at least on Peter's part. He dares to rebuke Jesus, as if he knows something Jesus doesn't.

As Jesus turns and looks at the rest of the disciples, Jesus knows he must crush this spirit of mutiny immediately. Peter cannot be allowed to make such ignorant and arrogant statements, not can any of the others. Peter's rebuke does not express grief over the teaching that the Christ must suffer, die, and be raised again to life. It expresses an outright rejection of the revealed will of God. In his outright rejection of God's will he has placed himself firmly in the service of Satan.

Jesus responds to Peter with rebuke of his own, "Get behind me, Satan!". He doesn't say, "Get behind me, Simon." He doesn't say, "Get behind me, Peter." He doesn't say, "Oh, you of little faith, why do you doubt." He calls Peter, "Satan." No one could have missed the point. I believe that Peter would have received these words like a blow to the abdomen. Peter in his rejection of Jesus' teaching was standing in the place of Satan. He was Satan's errand boy sent to lead Jesus astray, but Jesus didn't take the bait.

Jesus goes on to explain what exactly in Peter's rebuke reflects the Serpent. He states, "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man." Thus, when we stand in opposition with God's will, we stand in cooperation with Satan's will. When we are not serving God through humble obedient faith, then we are serving Satan with arrogant disobedient doubt. Jesus could let this gangrene flourish among his disciples, he had to cut it out and he does so quickly. There is no doubt that Peter was wounded by these words, but they are the very words that ushered him back into a place of obedience. The wounds of a friend are trustworthy.

We would do well to realize that disobedience to the Word of God places us in the service of Satan. All of us have made mistakes comparable to Peter's. The remedy rests in placing our mind on the things of God. We are called to meditate on them, to memorize them, to speak them, to read them, to study them, to obey them, and to trust them. We must be careful to step out in faith and obedience. We must avoid giving ourselves over to the service of the devil. Avoiding this takes courage and hard work. It takes watchfulness and diligence. May we continually set guard over our hearts and set our minds on the things of God.