Mark 8: 31-38
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The New
Testament Witness of the Apostle
Peter |
The Pulpit at Pilgrim's Rest Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA) |
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The first time that I considered this passage was in the fall of the year that I graduated from Seminary. I had about two years of future left with the old liberal denomination. Try as hard as I might, I could not fit into the family denomination with which we had been associated since it's founding in 1857. It was the old UPCNA which had been swallowed up in a multi-merger with the larger northern branch of Presbyterianism. Liberalism was in full sway and any theological thought was welcome as long as it wasn't to definite and confessional. The feminists had just been empowered and at the very next regional meeting, sodomites were in the auditorium making themselves known - so that they too could be accepted and welcomed.
Since then, over a million people have left that organization to make room for the more worldly desirable participants. Another liberal body was also assimilated to make up for those losses and as the trend continues, they should be able to celebrate the next millennium with a general assembly meeting in a phone booth! Yes, the liberal leadership did acquire, the wealth, riches and treasures of the old church, but those of us who were forced out have something they will never ever comprehend. We have Christ and Him crucified! A person and a truth that is blandly and boldly denied by the professional liberal clergy.
Look in our passage today for the reaction of Jesus to the worldly advice of Peter. "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." On the surface, the advice of Peter appears harmless. He could not see the need for nor the purpose of the death of Christ. Peter doesn't know it yet, but he was guilty of denying the whole reason for and focus of the glorious gospel of Grace.
Contrary to the mythical whims of the liberal professors, the Old Covenant God is not merely maturing and putting aside the bloody habits of a pre-Christian period. No indeed, even as Jesus stated that the law was not being set aside, He was coming to fulfill all aspects and portions of the Old Covenant revelation. We poor humans, who could not, cannot and never will be able to keep the law of God, are desperately in need of One who could keep the law's demands, and thus fulfill it and judicatorily readminister the age old Covenant. You see, according to the compact of the Old Covenant revealed to Noah, Moses, David and the rest, the covenant breaker must forfeit his life.
Pity the poor Promise Keepers who, just as ignorant as Peter, believe they can deny the necessity of the Gospel of Grace by keeping their version of the commandments. Ever and always, we need to be reminded that the Lord God Creator of heaven and earth does not need our advice. Well do I know that disdain that some hold against me for not being more worldly proactive in the building up of our small congregation.
Worldly plans and procedures have scientifically been accepted in many places for the express purpose of institutional growth within the very Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Dining With the Devil, Os Guiness calls that methodology. So of course in these few of so many habitual fallings, we are all like Simon Peter, willing and seemingly able to advise our Lord.
Years ago, when the television media was young and newscasters and program directors were testing their markets, the popular advise was to consider how any project would play in Hoboken, New Jersey. In other words, how would real people in a real place react to the ivory tower mentality of the media elite in New York City? Well, the media no longer cares how it plays anywhere but on both left coasts. Neither did the "leftist" Sadducees and Pharisees care at all for the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ. And just as Jesus begins to tell His own disciples what must come to pass, He is confronted with the advise of Peter, that the plan will not play well in the suburbs of Galilee let alone Jerusalem itself!
After, condemning the advise of Peter, Jesus gathers His followers to admonish them lovingly and gently. You think I am unpopular with the Church, just wait until you must teach in my place. The cross that I must bear will be yours as well, we can almost paraphrase these few verses.
Once, I heard a secular speaker at a professional meeting talk about public institutions and the educational goals that we must work with. The whole point of his afternoon's diatribe was to caution us that whatever changes the legislature might impose upon us, the only worthy goal was survival of the educational institution. He even compared the educational situation to that of other governmental and even military organizations. Of course we well know that fewer than half a dozen government agencies have ever been done away with, but there are more than a few instances of military groups who have immortalized their memory and their purpose in being destroyed.
The Spartans at Themophyle, the Welsh Regiment at Ismalda, the Texans at the Alamo, the Battleship Maine, as well as Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Wake Island to name a few. In all these instances, specific groups of men died trying to serve their King and Country. Those armies that put self-preservation first and foremost are no longer viable organizagtions.
At that particular meeting, I tried to point out that if an institution or person could not perform its primary obligation, than death before dishonor would be preferable. Too romantic for this day and age obviously. Pragmatism wins out over principle today. It would be very difficult to duplicate the dramatic plot of the recent movie The Patriot with any sincerity in our time! Too few even know a principle when they see it, let alone stand and die for one. Principles and sound doctrines have never ever been popular, and like the disciples we too must be reminded that the faith once given to the saints and too us as well, must never be compromised with the world.
Like Peter and all the others we are called to be a peculiar people, set apart from the world, thinking, believing, worshipping and praying differently from the common crowd. Just this week, I ran across an advertisement for a four volume set The Fundamentals. This is a set of books that I have only heard of, from almost a hundred years ago. Great Evangelical Scholars composed a set of pamphlets and articles do demonstrate the essentials of the Christian faith. This collection maintains that there are certain fundamentals of the faith that if compromised - negate the faith itself.
This is the whole point of our passage before us. Peter had denied the Gospel even before if was accomplished and understood. Well did he deserve the reprimand he received. And equally well did the whole group of followers need to be admonished that their calling was serious business. The work of the church we know from history has been one of false starts, turnings away, unfriendly spiritual take overs and by God's grace alone, spiritual growth and increase.
As we gather around the table spread before us in a few moments. Well should we examine our own souls to ascertain our standing before the throne of grace. Are we regularly tempted like Peter to deny the essentials of the Gospel? Do we sometimes feel that the death of Christ was unnecessary to save our souls? Would we advise Jesus to do things differently?
I remember a couple who visited for a few weeks. The last Lord's Day they were in attendance, they took the time to advise me on how to grow and increase the Church of Christ. I had to forget the word sin, so as not to trouble the saints. I should always accentuate the positive and encourage people to take hold of the better part that was within them. That was the way to grow the church. One final bit of advise they had was to forget the unholy aspects of the angry Old Testament God and emphasize the kinder gentler revelation in the New! Now I ask you in all sincerity, what good would that do around the table of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Look back at verse thirty-one of our passage today:
"And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
In the Covenantal context, this same Jesus died for our sins, even hell could not hold Him, and He rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He is the one we should listen to, he is the One we must adore and worship. He died for us that we might have life abundantly and eternally. If that message is offensive, there are plenty of places where it is not preached. But woe unto those churches that know not this Gospel. Look at the final admonition of this portion:
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.
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Cole, Alan. |
Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries: |
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Keener, Craig S. |
The IVP Bible Background Commentary:
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Pringle, William. |
Calvin's New Testament
Commentaries: |
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Sproul, R.C. |
"A Facade of Faith", |
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Uprichard, Harry. |
A Son is Revealde: |
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"Bringing the Light of the Reformation to Scripture" (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995) |
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B2b41 |
21 Oct 783 & 20 Jul 00 |