Rebuked.

"From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."" -Matthew 16:21-23

Did Peter just rebuke Jesus?  Really?  Peter was bold and confident enough to pull Jesus aside and attempt to "correct" him.  The same man who just confessed to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (v. 15-16)" was reprimanding Him.  

Jesus was telling His disciples of His purpose on this earth.  Jesus had a clear objective - He came to die so that we may live.  All the things that He foretold had to come to fruition to fulfill prophesy and pay the debt that we owe, to wash away our sins and present us whole to God.  Jesus was telling them what was about to happen, what had to happen.  

But Peter chose to rebuke the words of Jesus.  And in turn, Jesus had to rebuke him:  "Get behind me, Satan!"  Jesus had just told Peter that he was to be the rock upon which He would build the church, but now he was a stumbling block.  Peter lost sight of his objective; he was focusing on worldly things, not on the things of God.  He was still the "rock", but he was currently acting as an obstacle.  Jesus planned to use Peter to further the Kingdom - to do great things for God.  Unfortunately, at this moment, Peter was a hindrance.  

And as I examine Peter, I am forced to ask myself:  how many times have I acted like him?

Peter had declared who Jesus was, but was acting in a way that denied that.  We do this - I do this.  I trust Jesus, but am still occasionally consumed with doubt and fear.  I proclaim that my purpose is in Christ, but I get in the way of that and limit myself.  I have acted as a hindrance to the Kingdom.  I get distracted by the things of this world and forget what is eternal.  I focus on things of man and lose sight of God.  I am Peter - the stumbling block.  With God's help, I can also be the Peter who God used to do incredible things.   

How would my life look if I was constantly living in a way that fully believed that Jesus is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do?