To Savour the Flavour of the Saviour #1

Saturday, July 10, 2021

“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture and its context teach us about Satan’s policy of evil?

Let us read from chapter 8 of Mark: “[31] And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. [32] And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. [33] But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”

We should also look at the companion passage, Matthew chapter 16: “[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Calvary is only approximately six months away, so the Lord Jesus Christ finally reveals His impending death. He has been thinking of Israel’s persistent rejection of Him—and how the culmination of such rank unbelief will be His horrific mistreatment at His trial and subsequent crucifixion. The Apostle Peter argues against that truth: “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” In other words, “It will never happen to You!” The exchange intensifies further when Christ replies, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” What would merit such a severe criticism of Peter? Let us study….