A couple of Sundays back, Brandon Hawkes came to the weekly gathering at 10101, and he invited us to imaginatively immerse ourselves in the scene where Jesus asks His followers, “Who do people say that I am?” And Jesus’ followers say, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” So folks are on the right track! John the Baptizer, and Elijah, and Jeremiah, and the true prophets of the Old Testament (like Hosea, Isaiah, Malachi, Micah, Obadiah, etc.) were primarily deployed to proclaim the coming of Jesus (see Luke 24:27)! Jesus is the dude these dudes are talking about, but He ain’t these dudes. So WHO IS JESUS? Jesus emphatically forces this question upon His leadership team. And Simon Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus says, “Yeah! That’s right! BingoBangoBongo! It’s crazy that you just said that! It’s a miracle that you just said that! THAT’S IT! Game. Set. Match! That’s the TRUTH! That’s the Truth that is so powerfully True, that not even the gates of hell can prevail against that Truth!”

And then Jesus launches into a crystal clear clarification lesson about what THE CHRIST has emphatically come to accomplish. Jesus’ big agenda is to be absolutely shamed, cursed, humiliated, scorned, bloodied, beaten, and killed (in a word – CRUCIFIED)! …and then – after staying disgracefully dead for 3 days – He’s gonna get out of His grave and go up into heaven, and be more authoritatively alive than we can imagine!

This does NOT jive with Peter.

Peter cannot comprehend this crucifixion agenda of THE CHRIST!

Peter cannot allow himself to accept such a shameful and degrading plan of action!

Peter cannot allow Jesus to continue thinking this way!

So… Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Him! Peter says, “Never! I will not allow what you’re saying! I will not permit you to speak of this anymore!”

:::

*Peter professes to be a Christian. Peter is a leader in the church. Peter claims to be an extremely orthodox fellow! Peter prides himself on receiving commendations from Christ! Peter wears the name “Peter” as a badge of honor! …AND Peter really doesn’t know what Jesus is ALL ABOUT.

Is it possible that we operate like this sometimes?