Thursday 20 February 2025
Genesis 9:1-13. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth – Psalm 101(102):16-21, 29, 22-23. Mark 8:27-33.
Get behind me Satan
Harsh words indeed, but Satan is the tempter. What Jesus was really saying to Peter was, ‘Don’t make this any harder for me than it already is’.
Every instinct in Jesus screamed at him to turn back and not go to Jerusalem. He could go somewhere and live an anonymous life. The prophets had made it quite clear what would happen to the suffering servant. Jesus quoted from them as he explained to the disciples why he had to go on. He was terrified of the cruelty that would be unleashed once he was at the mercy of the religious leaders. Yet, the only clarity he had was to continue his mission: to reveal the Father’s love by word and action, to speak the truth, confront injustice and oppression, and care for the poor. If he didn’t go on, quite literally all hell would break loose. Jesus chose to keep going.
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