Setting Our Minds

WE MAY HAVE HEARD THIS FAMILIAR SAYING: “THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.” AN INTENTION IS SIMPLY A PLAN OR GOAL WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH. IRONICALLY, INTENTIONS DON’T ACHIEVE ANYTHING. THEY ARE MERELY IDEAS AND DREAMS OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE DONE IN THE FUTURE.

HOWEVER, NOT ALL INTENTIONS ARE GOOD OR VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. A LOT OF FAILURE HAS RESULTED FROM HASTY DECISIONS MADE FROM LIMITED INFORMATION. SELFISH MOTIVES AND THE LUST FOR SORDID GAIN HAVE LEAD TO THE DOWNFALL OF MANY GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH LEADERS.

WHEREVER THE POINT OF FAILURE OCCURRED, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO SEE THE DEMISE OF A SITUATION WHERE THERE WERE GOOD INTENTIONS IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THROUGH MANY MISTAKES, ACTING TOO QUICKLY, AND BAD ADVICE OR COUNSEL, THE SITUATION DISMANTLED AND DISASTER ENSUED.

THANKFULLY, THAT ISN’T ALWAYS THE CASE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS ABOUT, THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXCEPTION! I AM TALKING ABOUT THAT EXCEPTIONAL MOMENT WHEN SOMEONE WITH A MUCH CLEARER VISION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION COMES FORWARD TO INTERVENE WITH PREVENTIVE CORRECTION.

IN OUR SCRIPTURE TODAY, PETER, HAD SOME HOPEFUL INTENTIONS OF WHAT HE THOUGHT THE FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH VICTORY OVER ROME AND JESUS AS THEIR RIGHTFUL KING.

PETER HAD INTENTIONS OF HAVING THE WEIGHT OF ROME FINALLY OFF THEIR BACKS AND TO BE THEIR OWN NATION! NO SLAVERY! NO BONDAGE! PLUS, HE HAD INTENTIONS OF BEING PROMOTED AND REWARDED WITH A PROMINENT POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN THE EARTHLY GOVERNMENT OF KING JESUS.

HOWEVER, THAT WASN’T THE INTENTIONS OF JESUS, BY ANY MEANS. JESUS, IN VERSE 31, STEPS IN TO INTERVENE WITH PREVENTIVE CORRECTION BY SAYING, “THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS AND BE REJECTED BY THE ELDERS, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW, AND THAT HE MUST BE KILLED AND AFTER THREE DAYS RISE AGAIN.”

THEN, VERSE 32, SAYS THAT JESUS “…SPOKE PLAINLY ABOUT THIS…” TO INDICATE HE WAS DIRECT AND TO THE POINT. NO MORE PARABLES. NO MORE CODED SPEECH. JUST THE COMPLETE, HONEST FACTS. JESUS SPEAKS OPENLY NOT ONLY ABOUT HIS DEATH, BUT THE PROMISES OF VINDICATION FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FOLLOWERS.

PETER IS NOT HAVING ANY OF IT…THIS OUTCOME DOESN’T FIT HIS INTENTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS NOT HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO. YOU DON’T QUIT OR TURN YOURSELF OVER TO YOUR ENEMIES!! PETER WILL NOT SUPPORT A LOSER. HE WANTS TO WIN, SO HE MAKES A RASH DECISION AND OPENLY REBUKES JESUS.

THE WORD “REBUKE” SHOWS US THAT PETER WAS VERY UPSET AND HARSH IN EXPRESSING HIS DISAPPROVAL OF THE PLANS JESUS HAD JUST REVEALED. PETER MAKES IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT HE DOESN’T WANT JESUS PUT TO DEATH. PETER, VERY UPSET, ACTS OUT IRRATIONALLY BECAUSE OF HIS DEEP LOVE FOR JESUS.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF PETER’S MOTIVE IS DUE TO HIS LOVE, IT IS HIS SELFISHNESS THAT EMPOWERS HIS REBUKE OF JESUS. JESUS QUICKLY RETURNS REBUKE FOR REBUKE OUT OF NOT ONLY LOVE, BUT DIVINE CORRECTION TO GUIDE HIM BACK TO GOD’S PLANS.

HE QUICKLY RETORTS, “GET BEHIND ME SATAN!” JESUS IS NOT CALLING PETER “SATAN” AS IF PETER HAS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BECOME A DEMON POSSESSED TRAITOR. JESUS IS MAKING IT KNOWN THAT BECAUSE HIS DEATH IS SACRIFICIAL AND ALL PART OF GOD’S DIVINE PLAN IT WILL NOT BE STOPPED FOR ANY REASON.

JESUS, BY REBUKING PETER, WAS LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT WHOEVER OPPOSES HIS DEATH WAS, DELIBERATELY OR NOT, ADVOCATING SATAN’S WORK. JESUS GAVE A STERN WARNING TO PETER TO DECIDE WHOES SIDE HE WAS REALLY ON.

PREVENTING THE DEATH OF JESUS WOULD BE SATAN’S ULTIMATE VICTORY. ALLOWING THE DEATH OF CHRIST WOULD BE, INSTEAD, SATAN’S GREATEST DEFEAT. JESUS HAD TO DIE TO CONQUER SIN AND DEATH WHICH WAS HIS PLAN ALL ALONG.

THE CHALLENGE FOR US TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS FOR PETER. WE MUST DETERMINE, ONCE AND FOR ALL, WHOSE SIDE WE ARE GOING TO BE ON AND THEN COVENANT TO STAY THERE.

JOSHUA 24:15, “BUT IF YOU REFUSE TO SERVE THE LORD, THEN CHOOSE TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. WOULD YOU PREFER THE GODS YOUR ANCESTORS SERVED BEYOND THE EUPHRATES? OR WILL IT BE THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU NOW LIVE? BUT AS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

THE LESSON FOR US TODAY IS THAT JESUS, IN ADDITION TO THE REBUKE, EXPOSES THE CAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE. VERSE 33, JESUS SAID “YOU DO NOT HAVE IN MIND THE CONCERNS OF GOD, BUT MERELY HUMAN CONCERNS.” THE GOAL OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP IS COMPLETE CONFORMITY TO THE DIVINE.

THE GREEK WORD FOR “MIND” MEANS “TO HAVE A MENTAL DISPOSITION FOR.” WE CAN ALSO USE THE WORDS, “LIKEMINDED,” “TO BE OF THE SAME MIND,” “TO AGREE,” “TO CHERISH THE SAME VIEWS,” AND “TO BE HARMONIOUS.”