Savouring the Things of God
Mark 8:31-35
Intro:
I. The Revelation that was Disturbing
· 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.
I cannot begin to imagine the effect that this revelation had on the disciples.
Imagine Jesus starting what they thought would be another lesson loving one another, forgiving your enemies or living right.
Instead, He starts describing His suffering, His rejection by the scribes and high priests and his crucifixion.
II. The Response that was Disapproving
· 32 … And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
REBUKE: to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely; to admonish or charge sharply
I am not going to pretend to know what was going in Peter’s mind and heart when he did this.
I know this – he was the same one that said he would die before he betrayed Jesus.
I believe that Peter had good intentions. Notice Matthew’s account of Peter’s response:
· Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
I will even go so far as to say that Peter had noble intentions.
Peter couldn’t stand the thought of his Lord and Master having to suffer many things, face rejection by everybody, and be killed.
None of us would have shaken our head and said, “Amen!” when Jesus announced that revelation in verse 31, 32.
Peter was horrified at the thought.
His rebuke was not one of rebellion or anger at the will of God, but at the distaste of what was going to happen.
He probably felt he was defending Jesus; protecting Him, showing his loyalty and his love and his devotion to Him.
But that is now how Jesus interpreted it.
III. The Rebuke that was Devastating
· 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.
One of the most convicting and startling rebukes in the Bible was from the Lord Jesus Christ to one of His disciples, the Apostle Peter.
Jesus looked at Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan:…”
NOTE: Matthew 16 says it like this:
· 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.
Then, He continued with what I would personally consider to be one of the most devastating rebukes from the Lord of any in the Bible.
Jesus looked at Peter and said, “…for thou savourest not the things that be of God…”
Notice who Jesus said this to! The Apostle Peter!
Peter – who had left everything to follow Jesus.
He had walked away from his career, his business, his boats, his family, everything.
He had been what we would consider to be “full-time ministry.”
He had been sent of God to preach repentance and power over devils and heal people in 6:7-13
They were so busy that in chapter 6:31 the Bible says they didn’t even have time to stop and eat.
They had just been instrumental in helping feed 5,000 in chapter 6 and another 4,000 in chapter 8.
Peter had just confessed that Jesus was the Christ in chapter 8 verse 29.
Then immediately following that confession, Jesus says to Peter, “Thou savourest not the things that be of God.”
IV. The Reality that is Disturbing
SAVOUREST: to have understanding, be wise; to feel, to think; to be of the same mind i.e. agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious; to seek one’s interest or advantage; to direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for
SA'VOR, verb intransitive
1. To have a particular smell or taste.
2. To partake of the quality or nature of; or to have the appearance of.
SA'VOR, verb transitive
1. To like; to taste or smell with pleasure.
2. To like; to delight in; to favor. Matt. 16.
(Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
It hit me – if Peter could have a moment in his life and ministry when he didn’t savour the things that be of God, what about me?
· Could that happen to me?
· Could it be possible to get tunnel vision and completely lose sight of the big picture?
· Could I ever get so personally involved in the ministry that I think like a man that doesn’t know God?
· Could I ever become an offence to God; take sides with the Evil One and fail to savor the things of God?
· Could it ever be said of me that the perfect will of God could become repulsive to me?
· Could I ever rebuke God for doing what He thinks is best?
· Could I ever rebuke God for how He wants to operate and how He wants things to unfold?
Conclusion: Notice verse 34.
· 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus said basically, not only must I suffer, be rejected and die, but you must to if you are to be my disciple.
A. The Decision - Whosoever will come after me,
B. The Denial - let him deny himself,
C. The Death - and take up his cross,
D. The Direction - and follow me.
E. The Dividends – vs. 35
· 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.