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February 9 Daily Devotional

An Offense

Frans Bakker

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me.—Matthew 16:23a

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:21–23

Devotional

Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Many believers confess Christ as Lord and later, like Peter, become His opponent. They become enemies of the cross and unknowingly desire what the devil wants to accomplish. These sheep need to be humbled to realize the curse and death that rests on them. No one wants to experience humiliation. No one wants to be humbled, especially after they have received grace. Without the strength of Christ they still remain enemies of the cross, even after they have confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

No, it was not Caiaphas, Pilate, the Jews, or the world that placed the first drop in the cup of suffering that Christ experienced. His own church and people did it. How excruciatingly painful this experience must have been for the Mediator!

Jesus said: “Thou art an offense unto me,” for Peter was a stumbling block on His way to making payment for sin. The devil used Peter to try to cause the Surety to stumble on the path He had to travel. Satan was motivated by his crafty nature and Peter acted out of his blindness. Peter reacted in love, and yet it was caused by natural enmity. When a sinner is confronted with a suffering and dying Surety, he is humbled. Such a sinner has to learn who he is apart from Christ. Without the Savior, man is hell-bound and damnable. For the Surety reveals the justice of God.

The Mediator pays the ransom price even though His people have never asked for it to be paid. This suffering was extremely painful for even His own disciples did not recognize Him as their Surety. This blow must have been more severe for Him than the one dealt to His face in the courthouse of Caiaphas.

Satan used the very church the Lord was going to lay down His life for, to oppose Him. Undeniably His suffering and temptation were vast! And yet, He willingly went through that gate to His path of suffering. “Get thee behind me.” Oh, see Him as the Savior of the world as He utters the words, “Behind me.” Jesus casts the rock of offense away, behind Him, and He chooses death in the place of those who oppose their own salvation. Now, even those who never asked to be saved can be saved. Jesus provides a way for enemies of the cross and ultimately enemies of their own salvation to be reconciled with God. What inexpressible love for sinners!

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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