But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Mark 8:33
When Peter rebuked Jesus, he was trying to stop Jesus from going to the cross—we should be very thankful that Jesus rebuked Peter.
Imagine Peter standing at the pearly gates of heaven. If Jesus had followed Peter’s counsel, what would have happened to him when he arrived? Peter knocks on heaven’s door and an angel answers, “Who are you?”
“I’m Peter. I was one of Jesus’ disciples.” “Yes, but why are you here?”
Peter confesses, “Well, these are the gates of heaven, and I’d like to come in.”
“I’m sorry,” the angel says, “but you are a sinful man. Don’t you remember you said that yourself when you were with Jesus? Heaven is a holy place. There is no room for sin of any kind here.” Then pointing to a dark and foreboding gate, the angel offers, “There is another gate just across there. Knock on that door. They will have room for you.”
No one could stop Jesus from fulfilling His mission of bringing blessing to the world through the cross. When a person is on a self-destructive path, a sharp rebuke is an expression of love. Peter could not see that what he was suggesting would lead to his own destruction. Just as he needed Jesus’ rebuke, there will be times when we need Jesus’ rebuke, too.
How does Jesus rebuke us? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16, NIV). Christ rebukes us through His Word, and His rebuke is always an expression of His love.
When you read the Bible, do you only look for and apply God’s promises? Or do you also look for and receive God’s rebukes?
Written by Colin Smith
Read by Sue McLeish
www.openthebible.org.uk
