When I read Matthew 16, there’s a little bit of me that used to think that Jesus was being a bit over the top with Peter.
Picture the scene. It’s a pivotal moment in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say he is. They give a range of answers and Jesus presses them – who do they say he is?
Peter says “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (v16). Jesus blesses Peter specifically and tells him that he will be the rock on which he builds his church and will give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. It’s a huge moment.
But then…..
Jesus starts to teach the disciples in earnest and predicts his death, and the manner of it. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!’” (v22) It’s a bold move. It comes from not understanding what Jesus’ Messianic work must entail (how could he?). But Jesus is just a harsh, “Get behind me Satan!” (v23) Satan? Wowsers.
It should sound familiar though. In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert. After the devil’s third temptation, Jesus says “Away from me Satan!” (v10). The wording in the original Greek of the gospel is almost the same: Away (hupage) Satan (4:10) / Get behind me (hupage opisō) Satan (16:23).
What this says is that Peter’s words about not being killed are a temptation to Jesus. Jesus is not annoyed that Peter doesn’t understand, it’s that the idea of not dying is a temptation that he needs to overcome, just the same as not accepting the help and authority of Satan in the desert.
In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays to be released from what is before him “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me”, but in obedience, accepts what must be “Yet not my will, but your be done.” This is the same fear and temptation that we see in Matthew 16.
This exchange with Peter shows Jesus’ humanity. He is afraid. He is tempted by the idea of not dying, but in his obedience, knows he must master his fear. This is why he says to Peter that he is a stumbling block to him – the Greek for that word, includes connotations of a snare specifically something (or someone) that will draw a person into sin.
The sin for Jesus (who was sinless) would be if his fear gave way to disobedience.
Seeing his obedience, and mastery of temptation yet again, knowing he was afraid, is awe-inspiring. It grows my love for Jesus knowing he was so beautifully human. I can forget that sometimes against the knowledge of his divinity.
But Jesus knew and felt all the emotions we feel. It makes him like us, and close to us. He knows us in our fear and temptation. It makes him the perfect saviour and intercessor.