Topical Bible: Presumption in Objecting to Jesus' Statement That Jesus Must be Killed

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In the New Testament, the presumption in objecting to Jesus' statement about His impending death is most notably illustrated in the interaction between Jesus and Peter. This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, with a particularly detailed account in the Gospel of Matthew.

Biblical Context

In Matthew 16:21-23 , Jesus begins to reveal to His disciples the necessity of His suffering, death, and resurrection: "From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, reacts with strong objection. In verse 22, Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You!" Peter's response reflects a presumption that he knows better than Jesus about the necessity and appropriateness of the Messiah's path.

Theological Implications

Peter's objection is rooted in a misunderstanding of the Messianic mission. The Jewish expectation of the Messiah at the time was largely that of a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression. Peter's presumption is indicative of a human tendency to impose personal expectations and desires onto divine plans.

Jesus' response to Peter is swift and stern. In Matthew 16:23 , Jesus turns to Peter and says, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." This rebuke highlights the gravity of Peter's presumption. By opposing God's redemptive plan, Peter unwittingly aligns himself with Satan, who seeks to thwart God's purposes.

Lessons on Presumption

The incident underscores the danger of presumption in spiritual matters. It serves as a caution against the arrogance of assuming human wisdom can supersede divine revelation. Jesus' mission was not to conform to human expectations but to fulfill God's salvific plan, which necessitated His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection.

The presumption in objecting to Jesus' statement also illustrates the importance of humility and submission to God's will. Believers are called to trust in God's wisdom and timing, even when it contradicts personal understanding or desires. This narrative invites reflection on the nature of discipleship, which involves embracing the cross and the paradox of life through death, as Jesus later explains in Matthew 16:24-25 : "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Conclusion

The presumption in objecting to Jesus' statement about His death serves as a profound lesson in the necessity of aligning one's understanding and expectations with God's revealed purposes. It calls for a posture of humility, trust, and obedience in the face of divine mysteries that transcend human comprehension.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 16:21-23
From that time forth began Jesus to show to his disciples, how that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
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Mark 8:32
And he spoke that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
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Library

A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer.
... wilt, as thou art wont, contradict, by objecting to us ... And so there was this same
presumption concerning Christ ... who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not ...
/.../a treatise of novatian concerning the trinity/a treatise on re-baptism by.htm