The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ: Episode 44

Rev. Sun Myung Moon: The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ
Chapter 4: With The Disciples, Jesus Rebukes Peter, Page 115

Jesus Rebukes Peter

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he should go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he should be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

God instructed Jesus to alter his mission. Peter’s reaction to this news was to reply, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Do you know what Jesus said to him? He said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” In general, Christians, including theologians and ministers, interpreted this thusly: “Look, even Peter was scolded by God. Why? Because Peter was in a position to oppose the crucifixion, which was the will of God.” This is their interpretation: the crucifixion was a predestined course of Jesus. But people do not know that this was after God informed Jesus of his altered mission toward the crucifixion. This is why Jesus now pursued this altered course and Simon Peter did not know the true heart of God.

Christmas in Heart
December 25, 1973

God gave two kinds of prophecies concerning the accomplishment of his will through Jesus. One foretold that Jesus would die due to the disbelief of the people. (Isaiah 53) Another foretold that the people would believe in and honor Jesus as the Messiah and help him to accomplish God’s will in glory. (Isaiah 9)

Why did Jesus chastise Peter so harshly? In truth, when Jesus spoke these words, the disbelief of the chosen people had already frustrated Jesus’ efforts to complete the providence of salvation both physically and spiritually. By that time, Jesus had resolutely determined to accept the fate of the cross (Luke 9:31) as a condition of indemnity to open the way for the spiritual salvation of humankind. Peter’s dissuasion could have hindered Jesus from paving the way for spiritual salvation through the cross. For this reason, Jesus rebuked him.

Exposition of the Divine Principle
Messiah 1.5-6