Imposed agendas (part 2)

My previous post focused on Peter trying to impose his agenda and deter Jesus's vocational calling:

As Christ told his disciples about His upcoming salvific work on the cross, Peter said, 'I'll never let that happen, Lord!' But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’  (Matt. 16:22-23)  

I now want to consider what may have been going on in Peter’s head prior to his acting this way.

Starting in Matthew chapter 15, we see the Pharisees challenging Christ because His disciples didn’t follow the hand washing ritual. Christ says it is about the status of the heart, not unwashed hands. The Pharisees demonstrate their “unbelief” in Jesus here.

Next, this unbelief is contrasted in two ways: 1) by a foreign woman who believes that Jesus can heal her daughter. Due to her faith, He does. 2) Jesus heals many who are sick and feeds 4000+ hungry people: they all believe in Jesus and are thus healed and well-fed.

After this, the Pharisees ask Jesus for another sign (Matt 16:1), and thus disbelieve again.

Then, Jesus warns the disciples not to be influenced by those pharisees.  Maybe the 12 were confused by the Pharisees’ unbelief, after all they were their religious leaders – very wise and influential people.

As Jesus was doing the works of His calling - teaching and healing and providing, we see a pattern emerge from among those present: 

1. unbelief
2. belief
3. belief
4. unbelief

Peter didn’t submit to any doubt, he knew that Jesus was the Messiah (16.16). Jesus said, “well done Peter, that knowledge came straight from God to your lips. Peter, et.al., I will build my church on you, even Satan will never overcome it!” Aha – the disciples finally heard the conquering language they’d expected all along.

Then Jesus explains His death, which will be at the hands of the pharisees, nonetheless! Peter may have thought, “What? No, you still have conquering to do, you can’t die, especially at the hands of these haters! I’ll save you!” He said, 

'I'll never let that happen, Lord!'

I understand that Peter’s motive to impose on the works of Christ's vocation may have been pure; it may be have been to protect His Lord. It was still wrong, though.

How does this apply to us? We have works to do, too 

1. People will support us or oppose us
2. People may try to protect us or prevent us 
3. Wise and influential people will believe or disbelieve that God has made us to do certain works 
4. People will receive our works or will reject our works
5. Wise and influential people will recognize our efficiency or they will test it

We must remain steadfast and determined as Christ did and stay true to our callings, for Christ’s sake 😊