"THE THINGS OF GOD"
Second Sunday in Lent
February 25, 2018
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
TEXT:
Turning and seeing His disciples, [Jesus] rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Mark 8:33 (ESV)
It's amazing to see how different people can look at the same event and see entirely different things. Take war, for example. Every war that our nation has engaged in throughout its history has had its advocates and its detractors. Some people look at a war and what they see is a wrong that needs to be righted or people who need to be protected or a greedy dictator who has to be stopped. The ugly realities of war fade into the background for these people because what matters to them is the greater good--the preservation of liberty--the ending of tyranny and aggression. There are others, however, who will look at the same situation and see something entirely different. These people, when they look at the very same war, see nothing but destruction and bloodshed and death. Don't try to tell them why all this of is necessary because they won't understand. They don't see anything in this but human beings killing one another.
In today's Gospel we find a situation somewhat similar. Here we see two people (Peter and Jesus) looking at the same thing (Jesus' approaching suffering and death) and seeing two entirely different things. All Peter saw when he heard the Savior speak about His death was the ugliness of it all: He saw the Lord of all being rejected by all--humiliated, mistreated, and put to death as a common criminal. The events of which Jesus spoke were terrible as far as Peter was concerned so he boldly assured Jesus that if it were up to him, he would never let any of this happen to his Lord. But when Jesus thought of His approaching death He saw the fulfillment of His mission: the redemption of sinful humanity. He saw His redeeming love: the offering of Himself as the atoning Sacrifice for the sin of the world. He saw the completion of His Gospel: reconciliation between the just God and His rebellious creatures. In short, Peter looked at the death of Jesus from a human perspective and saw only the concerns of men while Jesus Himself looked at His death from the divine perspective and saw in it the salvation of sinners. Let's try to understand why Jesus reacted so strongly to Peter's comments and let's try also to learn from Jesus the difference between "the things of man" and "the things of God."
One of the biggest "things of man" is the instinct for survival. Peter hears Jesus talking about His death and he doesn't like what he hears. Think about that. Do you see yourself in this at all--even just a little? How do you typically react when someone dear to you says something to remind you that he or she is not going to be here forever--especially if that dear one happens to be terminally ill? If you're like most people you do everything you can to stop that person. You might say something like: "No, don't talk like that! You'll be around for a long time." That's what Peter is doing to Jesus in this passage and Jesus responds by identifying Peter's words as being Satanic. That's pretty strong. I am convinced that this preoccupation with survival--this avoidance of suffering and death--is the reason why the cross is so unpopular (and the crucifix even moreso). These are vivid reminders of the suffering and death of Jesus and, from a human perspective, suffering and death are bad things--things to be avoided at all costs. Whether we realize it or not, it is Satan who directs our eyes away from the suffering and death of Jesus.
Another big concern for humans is their own selfishness. Peter doesn't want to hear about Jesus' death because he knows that when Jesus dies, he's going to lose a dear Friend. So you see, it's not just Jesus that Peter is concerned about; it's Peter. And it's the rest of the disciples, too. After all, this wasn't a very disciplined or well-organized group to begin with. Just think how chaotic things would be if their Leader and Lord--the One who held it all together--wasn't there anymore to guide them and keep them on track. Who would comfort them when they're upset or strengthen them when they're worried or correct them when they get out of hand? These are also "the things of man"--things that are the cause of great concern to people who look at death in general and the death of Jesus in particular only from a human perspective.
So what are "the things of God"? What is it that Jesus sees in His suffering and death that Peter fails to see? Jesus looks at His death and sees the glory of God. He realizes that God will be glorified in this whole morbid scenario. But how can that be? How could God possibly be glorified by such a miscarriage of justice as His own innocent Son being put to death as a common criminal after an unfair trial? The answer is simple: In the death of the innocent Son of God, God's justice is satisfied. His wrath against the sin of humanity is appeased. His judgment against sinners is carried out. Because of the death of Jesus there is peace between God and man--peace that was not possible before because we were aliened from Him. But Christ was obedient for us and carried the guilt of our sin to the cross. Because of this, there is now forgiveness for us, the offenders. And since it is God's glory to forgive and justify sinners, He is glorified in the death of the One who willingly became our Substitute under His judgment.
There's a word for all of this--this forgiveness and justification of sinners that was accomplished in the death of Jesus. That word is "Gospel." Literally it means "Good News." The message of Jesus' death is Good News for us who would otherwise be condemned to an eternity separated from the grace of God because of our sin. It gives us life. As a matter of fact, it is news that is so good that we can't just keep it to ourselves--not if we truly understand it and appreciate it. This is Good News to be shared with everyone, because those who hear it and receive it in faith receive all the blessings of salvation that have come to us. This, too, glorifies God because, remember, it is His glory to save sinners. This is the glory of His redeeming love, that He might restore His erring ones to full fellowship with Him and, consequently, with one another.
In today's Gospel we encounter one event--the death of Jesus on the cross--as seen from two different perspectives: the human perspective of Peter, who has in mind "the things of man"; and the divine perspective of Jesus, who has in mind "the things of God." Certainly nothing has changed in our world since this interchange between the Lord Jesus and His disciple. Today we still have those who think that focusing on the suffering and death of Jesus (as we do especially during this season of Lent) is a morbid and unhealthy preoccupation with grief and misery. But we know that "the things of God" are to be found in meditating on our Savior's passion. For us who believe in Him the death of Jesus is the death of sin--the death of Satan--the death of death--the death of hell. Our focus on that center cross at Calvary is not an unhealthy obsession with sorrow but rather a quiet and solemn joy as we contemplate the incredibly great blessings of salvation that God has given us by taking our place under His own judgment and thereby reconciling us to Himself so that we might have His gracious gifts of forgiveness and everlasting life.
Amen.
May the One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, making us kings and priests before His God and Father, lead you to a life of repentance and trust. May He also be glorified in the lives of you, His people. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Amen.