Nougat 10

Hi

There’s two ways of encouraging people to take a positive spin on life when things look grim in Jamaica. One is, ‘wha no dead no dash weh’ ie don’t discard that which still has potential; and what no dead no call it duppy’; ie don’t says it’s over prematurely. I also hear the two phrases combined, and invite us to hold that thought as we chew very slowly on Today’s Holy Nougat

“But turning around [with His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for your mind is not set on God’s will or His values and purposes, but on what pleases man.”” Mark‬ ‭8:33‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Oy, or rather ouch!

There’s no way that reprimand could have sounded gentle. Nor was it private. In fact, Jesus turned away from Peter as though sending him behind Him as indicated by the command.

A few considerations about this nougat:

A. Peter had been at the ‘head of the class’ when this happened.

Having been with the disciples for some considerable time; Jesus invited the disciples to testify of Him, ie to tell Jesus Who they thought Jesus was. Peter quickly declared Jesus as the Messiah, or the Christ (anointed One, next King to rule, as per divine selection, Saviour). And Peter was correct.

B. Peter’s response did not only happen while he was at the head of the class; it was said out of fear or misplaced love.

Thus …

Immediately following the revelation of Jesus’ identity; the prophetic revelation of Jesus suffering was shared by Jesus. Now some of us can make the switch; but Peter didn’t (we will discuss the switch at another time). And so, armed with the knowledge he had; Peter began to discount Jesus’ prophetic Words.

C. Although turning His back to and directing His words at Peter; Jesus addressed the root of the sin, not the ‘sinner’.

Somehow Jesus managed to separate Peter from his comment (Remember the caution in Ephesians 6:12? About whom we wrestle?). That’s why Jesus used ‘satan’ instead of Peter‘s name. Jesus knew that although Simon Peter yielded to temptation; it was the squatter that incited Peter to speak (In Matthew 16:17, Jesus noted that Peter’s head of the class response came from Divine revelation – the Spirit of God! Likewise, that response was not ‘natural’). By separating the person from the moment, there was scope for Peter’s restoration

D. Though chastised, we don’t hear of Peter quitting Jesus’ company or of the disciples shunning Peter.

Jesus rebuked, and He moved on. Peter and the other disciples went with him without a murmur.

E. Peter went on to become the ‘head’ of the Pentecost church meeting in Jerusalem after Jesus Ascension.

…..

Could that be the current beauty of the body of Christ? That we recognize the humanity and thus the fallibility of our (spiritual) leaders. They are leaders because of the move of God’s Spirit upon them in a season of their lives. And usually it’s then that they are most vulnerable. So, we bear them up in prayer even though it seems that they are infallible. When sin ensnares them; we should avoid joining the fray to demonize them. Rather we name the sin (and call it out as such, no cover ups); acknowledging that the person sinned and move forward by committing the person to Christ’s care and restoration. Who knows, God may still have great plans for the person when s/he repents and returns to the fold.

And so from those we learn how to treat with ourselves and others who make a mess of our spiritual lives. Wha no dead, no dash weh an no call it duppy.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .