Revelation. Rejection. Rebuke. Relavence. Reassurance (Part 1): Mark 8:31-8:33

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31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Introduce

“You are the Christ,” said Peter (Mark 8:29). Many different opinions about Jesus floated around in His day, as they do today. Is He one of the prophets? Is He Elijah? Is He John the Baptist? No, He is much more. Who do you say Jesus is? Peter says He is the Christ, the Messiah, Yahweh’s anointed prophet, priest, and king who came to save and rule over His people. Peter is correct in his identification of Jesus as the Christ. However, as our present text now reveals, his vision wasn’t yet clear on what it meant for Jesus to be the Christ. Last week we answered the question of who Jesus is. This morning and next Sunday we will answer the question of what Jesus came to do. Before, I provide you with the answer, please recall three aspects of the story with me.

Retell

To start, recall the Redeemer’s revelation (8:31-32a).

After the Peter confessed Jesus is the Christ and Jesus demanded that they tell no one about Him, Jesus began to teach His disciples. He taught them “that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly.”

Notice the title Jesus gives Himself, “The Son of Man.” This is another way to say that He is the Messiah without much of the political baggage.

The Son of Man is the dying and rising servant of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

The Son of Man is the one that Daniel beholds in a vision. The Ancient of Days gives the Son of Man a universal and everlasting Kingdom. It is through this Son of Man that the saints are delivered from powers of darkness (Daniel 7:13-28). Jesus is this Son of Man.

Notice the word “must” in the text. This functions in a way similar to the phrase “it is written.” What must happen is something that cannot but happen. So, what must happen to the Son of Man?

The Son of Man must suffer many things (Isaiah 52:13-53:12).

The Son of Man must be rejected by religious authorities (Psalm 118:22).

The Son of Man must be killed (Isa. 52:13-53:12; Gen 3:15).

The Son of Man must rise again on the the third day (Isa. 52:13-53:12; Dan 12:2; Hosea 6:2).

Why must these things happen? They must happen because

The Father has willed them (John 3:16; Acts 2:22-24; Rom. 8:32).

The Son Has promised them (Ps. 40:7).

The Spirit has prophesied about them in the Scriptures (Isa. 52:13-53:12).

Jesus, as God the Son Incarnate, the seed of Eve, Abraham, and David, desires to endure them (John 10:11; 2 Cor. 8:9; Gal. 2:20).

Jesus must be rejected, killed, and rise on the third day.

Notice that He spoke these things plainly. Jesus had spoken of His death before, but not with this great of clairty (2:20). His death is foreshadowed by the plotting of the religious authorities to kill Him (3:6) and the description of Judas Iscariot as the one who betrayed Him (3:19). Indeed, Jesus earthly ministry is one characterized by suffering, but it is suffering that leads to glory for Him and salvation for His people (1:12-14; 1:45; 2:6-11, 16-3:6; 3:22-20; 6:1-6; 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:33-34; 10:45; 14:32-16:8). We might say up to this point Jesus has given fuzzy pictures of what would happen. Here Jesus has given a high definition play for play. This passage is the first of three clear prophetic statements by Jesus of both His death and resurrection.

Jesus spoke these things clearly. How will the disciples react? I will answer that question shortly. So far, you have recalled the Redeemer’s revelation.

Next, recall the Redeemer’s rejection (8:32b).

Peter, the one who confessed Jesus is the Christ not too long ago (Mark 8:29), took the Lord aside and began rebuking Him. Matthew’s account supplies the content of Peter’s rebuke. He said, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Peter is the spokesman of the disciples; often saying what the other’s are thinking. He is a man of words and action. Peter is like those of you who speak before you think about the content and consequences of your words. You know who you are. He is like a young child who says things that embarrass their parents in public. Peter couldn’t fathom his Master, the Christ, suffering and dying. Peter should have known better. Did He forget Gen 3:15 or Isa 52:13-53:12? Did He not remember how John the Baptist described Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)? What Peter does here is inexcusable. No one has the right to rebuke the Son of Man.

Peter rejected the Redeemer’s revelation. How would Jesus respond such audacity? You will find out in a moment, but for now you have recalled the Redeemer’s revelation and rejection.

Lastly, recall the Redeemer’s rebuke (8:33).

Jesus turned and saw His disciples. Then “He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of man.’”

The rebuke issued by our Lord is blunt and pointed. It is a mic drop moment. It silences Peter and the one who has influenced him. Jesus saw the thoughts and words of Peter came not from faith, but Satan. Peter was doing the bidding of the tempter, who had tempted Jesus’s earlier, trying to get Him to by-pass His work as the suffering Servant (Matthew 4:8-9). Peter wasn’t himself Satan, but His words and action were Satanic.

Jesus tells Peter why He has uttered such Satanic drivel. He focused was on human matters, like avoidance of suffering, temporal power, and social greatness. Peter desired for Jesus to set up a temporal and worldly Kingdom, deliver the Jews from Rome, and make them happy with worldly things. This desire was common. God’s plan, though shocking or even repulsive to natural man, is that the Son of Man should reach and bring others to glory through suffering.

If Jesus rejected suffering, He wouldn’t and couldn’t establish God’s Kingdom and save His sinful people. Satan would win. Jesus, however, is not like Adam or Peter, He didn’t fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

Transition

You have recalled the Redeemer’s revelation, rejection, and rebuke. We know from last week that Jesus is the Christ (8:29). Now we may answer another question: What did the Christ come to do? Here is the answer: The Christ came to die and rise again. This truth is the big idea of the text and the sermon. The Christ came to die and rise again. Now take heed and respond appropriately to this truth. I will give you two such appropriate responses now.

Apply

1. The Christ came to die and rise again, so trust in Him

Peter failed to trust in Christ in this story. He had stumbled over the temptation of Satan and set his mind on the things of man. Unlike Him, you must strive to trust in Christ even when His ways and words are confusing. Remember people have always been saved through faith in the Christ. The promised Messiah has come. The saints of old trusted in the Messiah was to come. We trust in the Messiah who has come. 

Unbeliever, apart from trusting in Christ or placing your faith in Him, you are not only tempted by Satan, but one of His children and subjects. You are his disciple. You will suffer the same end as him. Jesus is the stronger man and serpent slaying King. He has already bound Satan and is expanding His reign over the minds and hearts of people through the preaching of the gospel. Unbeliever, the Christ has come, suffered, died, rose, and ascended to heaven. He will return and finish what He established in His first coming. He will save His people from final judgement and lead them into the glory of the eternal rest. If you reject Him, then you will not enter His rest, but face His judgement for all eternity. What will it be? Trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life or reject Him for eternal judgement and the second death? I hope you trust in Jesus. 

Church, the public needs to trust in Jesus as they always have. Politicians aren’t saviors. Sure some govern more justly than others, but apart from Christ they too are dead in sin. We serve the crucified and living Christ. We trust in Him. Let us continue to trust in Him. As the election approaches, put not your hope in politicians, riches, or temporary comforts. Cast your vote wisely and trust Christ no matter the results. He will not fail you. For though like Him you may suffer, He will surely bring you into glory.

Christian, don’t fall into the temptation of the Devil. Set your mind on the things of God and trust the Christ who suffered and entered into glory. 

The Christ came to die and rise again, so trust in Him.

2. The Christ came to die and rise again, so marvel at Him

Peter failed to marvel at God’s gracious and infinitely wise salvation through the dying and rising Christ. Don’t fail in the same way. A few weeks ago, I listed what we see when we look at Christ. Let me review that list.

We see God the Son Incarnate, True man and True God.

We see the promised Messiah, who suffers, dies, rises, ascends, and will return.

We see the grace and justice of God in His person and work, particularly on the cross. There He came under God’s judgement for sin and purchased the pardon and eternal life of sinners.

We see the mediator between us and God. It is in Him we have access to God.

We see our King, who reigns at God’s right hand and dispenses graces to His people in the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

We see our gentle, lowly, and great shepherd who despises none of His disciples and leads us to His streams of living water.

We see the one who leads us to eternal rest and victory over sin, satan, and death.

We see the one who gives sight to the blind and understanding to the clueless.

More beauties of Christ could be listed, however, this list gives us ample reason to marvel at Christ.

Church, may we have our hearts and minds set on the beauties of our marvelous Savior. He is why we are here. He is everything and apart from Him we are nothing more than social club. With Him we are the redeemed of children of God and saints. He has brought together all of us misfits and constituted a local expression of His universal church. He has gotten our church through so much. He has allowed us to sow and water seeds. He has even allowed us to see some of those seed grow as He has added to our number those being saved. I pray that we would never grow bored of hearing the beauties and glories of Christ.

Christian, you may wonder how you can come to marvel at Christ as I speak of here. Here are some actions can take and habits you can make to help.

Join and regularly assemble with a local church whenever it gathers.

Observe the ordinary means of grace: the ministry of the Word, prayer, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

Join and attend a Sunday School class.

Give yourself to private spiritual disciplines:

Start reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating upon Holy Scripture.

Start praying.

Regularly worship God in your families through Scripture reading, catechizing, and prayer.

Conclude

The Christ came to die and rise again, so trust in and marvel at Him. You learned this truth and saw the applications by recalling the Redeemer’s revelation, rejection, and rebuke. Jesus is the Christ who came to die and rise again. He reached the glory of God through suffering on behalf of sinners like you and me. Therefore, don’t reject Him. Instead, trust in and marvel at Him. Let’s pray.

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