An Obstacle to Jesus

"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me."

Mt 16:13-23

In what way is Peter an obstacle to Jesus? Is he a voice of discouragement as Jesus tries to psych himself up along the road to Calvary? Perhaps, but it's also possible that Jesus is saying something different here.

Peter was never asked to be a facilitator of God's plan of redemption. Jesus did not ask him to physically or emotionally smooth the road to Calvary before him; rather, the instruction he gave Peter was the opposite: "You follow me" (Jn 21:22). To imagine that Peter could potentially dissuade Jesus along his journey to the cross would afford Peter more power over the heart of God than he ever could have possessed.

Peter cannot block Jesus' procession to Calvary. But he can block Jesus' way toward triumphing over his own heart.

Jesus desires his kingship, manifested externally on Calvary, to ultimately conquer each of our hearts. This is the only path over which Jesus has appointed each of us gatekeeper. We cannot strip the crucifixion of its impact on the world at large, but we can render it meaningless in our own eyes.

Jesus asks each of us to allow him to mount his cross and reign victorious within our own heart. Will we prepare his way, or instead put up obstacles?