Jesus is so Approachable, Peter Feels Free Enough to Rebuke the Master
Matthew 16:21 – Later in Jesus’ 3 ½ year public ministry He begins to tell the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things and be killed at the hands of the Priests, but also come back to life after 3 days. In this fascinating passage Peter actually “took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke Him…” Can you get your head around that one? Peter takes the one who subdues the storm or cleanses the entire temple … “aside” and begins to chastise Him for saying that He will die!
Peter begins to correct the Lord! “Never, Lord!… This will never happen to you! (Notice both exclamation marks in the NIV text) Peter is intensely rebuking the Lord. Now we all know that Jesus turns it around and severely disciplines Peter (but continue to remember that He does NOT reject Peter). But consider this … Jesus must have been very “approachable” for Peter to even consider doing this. It is amazing how close Jesus could be to people…. Even while being a phenomenally powerful person. This is the same Jesus that will be “unveiled” in glory in the next chapter on the Mount of Transfiguration. Remember Revelation 1 – His closest and most intimate friend, John, falls down like a dead man when the unveiled power of Jesus is revealed. He is such a combination of Power & Meekness or Power & Approachability.
Foundation Verse: John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him KNOWN.” – or “has REVEALED Him” Since Jesus is radically approachable even though He is radically powerful, so is God. God is not far away but close to ever person and open to being approached. He receives us – even when we are far from being perfect. That is the “kind of person He is.”
Prayer: Master, you are truly amazing. One moment you are calming the raging storm on the sea, the next you are healing a cripple but among it all you are approachable to anyone who is responding to you… and while we are not perfect but struggling against sin. I love the fact you never rejected Peter when He screwed up! That gives me confidence that I can follow you too. Make me yours!