In Matthew 13, from verses 21 we read:- 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 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.”
This was a strong reprimand by Jesus to Peter, especially as this came shortly after Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ! Peter had not yet fully understood the mission of Jesus and what Jesus was going to do and achieve by his death and resurrection. He had to learn what the ‘Will of God’ was and have this revelation for himself.
We see in Acts 2, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter standing and preaching to the crowd! He now had a mind for the things of God and was bold in his declaration! He was transformed! Peter was now being led by the Spirit and into the things of God. How many of us can truly say we have our minds set on the things of God? Really?
Jesus is returning….soon. We need to be readying ourselves and setting our minds on the truth of this and walking closely with the Holy Spirit to understand what the Spirit is saying to the Churches in these hours. Peter passed a test to be able to preach the truth. A test of character that involved his old nature being broken to being able to love Jesus and be used. Are we ready?
