THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Matthew 8 (click here for link)

“Get behind me, Satan!”

Notice that Jesus does not say, “Get behind me, Peter.” Instead he says, “Satan.” Was this Jesus’ way of suggesting that Peter’s advice was so evil, that Peter was so taken over by Satan, he had lost his identity and had become Satan in Peter’s clothing? Or was this Jesus way of pinpointing the real enemy on this occasion—Satan and not Peter: “But this is your hour [Satan] and the power of darkness (Luke 22:53)?

No doubt, both explanations are correct.

Yes, while Satan does not play a prominent role in the Gospels, he is certainly there. At the beginning of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the ministry of Jesus begins with an assault by the persuasive power of the Devil. After spending 40 days in the dessert fasting, our Savior is tempted by suggestions of Satan for food, fame, and power. But what is the real purpose? Satan doesn't just want Jesus to listen to him and obey his petty suggestions; rather, Satan wants Jesus to avoid one thing, the cross. Without the cross, Satan wins! Without the death of the Son of God for man, death reigns! And thus, today in our reading, Satan works through on of Jesus closest friends, Peter, to keep him from heading toward the cross.

Consider these words from the popular hymn:

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

The cross truly is our greatest treasure despite its horrors. It is the only legitimate defense we have before an evil enemy and a righteous and perfectly just God. Thus Satan will do anything to keep us from the cross just as he tried to keep Jesus from his cross. Even as Jesus took his final breaths, Satan was there trying to prevent Jesus’ great work of salvation through the cross. Read Mark’s description of Satan in those final hours:

“And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” Mark 15: 29-33

Yes, those who “wagged their heads” and mocked him at the foot of the cross saying, “Come down” and “Save yourself” sounded very much like Satan asking Jesus to cast himself down from the Temple tower to be acknowledged the Son of God in Luke 4 and Matthew 4. But Jesus’ love for us was even greater than the temptation. He now asks us to follow him in the way of the cross; for it is there that we truly avoid the work of Satan in us and through us. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

In Christ,
Pastor Aaron