JESUS’ PATIENCE WITH PETER

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the
hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,
and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have
in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

— Matthew 16:21-23 ESV

I love Peter. I’m so grateful for how he is portrayed in the Gospels. I really do think he was aware of how he would be remembered in the telling of Jesus’ story, and yet was mature enough to let it stand.

So why am I grateful for that? Because Peter was a normal person. Sometimes right, often wrong. He followed Jesus from the very beginning. He really loved Him and was incredibly faithful. And yet he often, just like we all do, messed up. He cut someone’s ear off, he sank in the waves, and he denied knowing Jesus at the crucifixion.

This specific passage is one of those humanising moments in Peter’s story. Moments before these verses, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus tells him that this confession would be the rock on which He would build His church. Can you imagine how that must have felt for Peter? Four verses later, Jesus rebukes him with the shocking words, “Get behind me, Satan.” That’s a huge momentum swing. But it’s so real. I’m sure we can all think of times when we spoke with conviction one minute and needed correction the next.

And yet Jesus doesn’t reject Peter or ask him to stop following. In fact, in Acts 2 it is Peter who preaches the first recorded gospel message. The same Peter who, in his youthful zeal, told Jesus to His face that He would not and could not die is the same Peter who later wrote:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps… when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:21–23)

Just like He is with all of us, Jesus was patient with Peter. He walked with him in his immaturity. He discipled him and continued to reveal truth to him. I take great comfort from Peter’s life. Even when we think we’ve got it right, we can still get the next thing wrong. We constantly need to walk with humility, following Jesus, listening for His correction, trusting that He is leading us.

WELCOMING THE LORD’S CORRECTION

Peter’s story invites us to walk with both confidence and humility. Where might you need to walk with greater humility this week? Is there an area where you’ve been certain, but perhaps need to pause and ask Jesus again, “Am I seeing this clearly?”

Following Jesus is not about never being wrong. It’s about staying close enough to receive correction without walking away. Take a few moments today to invite the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him to show you where pride may have crept in, and where He is gently calling you deeper into humility and trust.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience with us. Teach us to walk in humility. Keep our hearts soft, our ears open,
and our steps close behind You. Amen.