Have you ever been rebuked? Put in your place? No one likes it, but it happens sometimes for good reason. The Apostle Peter experienced rebuke at least two times that we know of: one by Jesus himself, and the other by the Apostle Paul.
In Matthew 16, Peter makes the great confession that Jesus is indeed the “Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Then Jesus tells this disciple that he will suffer and die at the hands of the religious leaders. Peter actually rebukes Jesus for speaking this way, but Jesus responds, “Get behind me Satan… For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Then in Galatians 2:11-14, Paul rebukes Peter again. This time it is because Peter chose to disassociate himself from the non-Jewish believers once the Jewish believers arrived in town. Paul notices this and blasts Peter for his apparent hypocrisy.
So what do these two rebukes have in common? I would say that they are, in essence, the same rebuke. Jesus reprimands Peter for having the mind of man and not realizing that the way of the cross includes suffering and dying. Paul does the same. Peter, for whatever reason (probably his reputation), chooses to abandon the way of the cross by not living out its implications in his relationships.
You see, the “way of the cross” (the Gospel) demands that we live out its implications fully throughout every aspect of our lives. In Matthew 16, Peter desired for Jesus to follow the way of man using power, self-reliant means and sufficiency. In Galatians, Peter abandoned the implications of his justification by seeking his righteousness and approval by means of “another Gospel.” One author wrote:
If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the Gospel. And I don’t mean passionate about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the Gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life.” (C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life, 15)
We’re pretty good about understanding the cross as the means of forgiveness for sins and for personal salvation, but we often leave it behind when it comes to our lifestyles, how we do business, how we relate to others, how we spent our money, etc.
May we stand rebuked by how we so easily abandon the way of the cross, and may we -- in an act of repentance -- go running into the arms of our heavenly Father who will help us do this.
