But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me because you are not thinking the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23 

Good intentions, even the best of intentions, can, at times, get in the way of the Gospel. We see in our mind what we think is the right course of action but fail to see how this course of action may be a snare or a stumbling block to others hearing the Gospel. For example, the Apostle Paul had to wrestle with whether or not to eat meat which was sold in the marketplace after being put out for idols to eat. (Oddly enough, being little nothings, those idols never took even a bite.) Meat was meat. In Christian liberty, it could be purchased and consumed. In Christian love, if buying it offended someone whose faith was troubled by this practice, it should not be consumed and eaten. The good intention of feeding one’s guests choice meat may have gotten in the way of the Gospel. 

In our Gospel lesson for this week, we should not suppose that the Apostle Peter was purposefully trying to get in the way of the Gospel. He did not want his Lord and Master to suffer. In his mind’s eye, Peter could not envision Jesus dying on a cross. In a fervent rebuke, Peter told Jesus that this must never happen, that God the Father should have mercy on Him and spare His life. Peter would not permit Jesus to go to the cross. What, humanly speaking, good intentions! What, spiritually speaking, a foolish thought indeed! A thought which got in the way of the Gospel reaching its fulfillment on the cross. 

To go against the Gospel is to give way to plans of the evil one. So Jesus does not mince words. He is plain and direct and pointed as He counters Peter’s rebuke. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a snare to me because you are not thinking the things of God, but the things of men.” Harsh? Yes, necessarily so! If Jesus were to walk away from the cross, all people of all time from every nation, tribe, and tongue would be without hope, without salvation, without redemption. Jesus was resolute in what He must do. The last thing He needed in this moment was a well intentioned rebuke tempting Him to doubt the Father’s will for His sacrificial death. As true man, He must steer His course around Satan’s snares and stumbling blocks even if they were laid down by the good intentions of a disciple of His. As true man and true God, He had to die for us. 

May we learn from this rebuke of our Lord for times in which He must rebuke us. Let us dig up the stumbling blocks we have laid down with our thoughts, words, and deeds which go against the preaching of the Gospel. Let all prejudices be swallowed up in brotherly and sisterly love. Let personal agendas be burned at the altar of unity. Let our words and doctrine be aligned with the Word of God. May Christ crucified for all remain the focus of our ministry at Immanuel. 

Blessings, 

Frank Van Brocklin 

Principal Teacher

The following events are coming up in the next few weeks at Immanuel Lutheran School:● School has begun fully at Immanuel. Thank you to all of our parents for entrusting yourchildren to our care and for remembering the one thing needful, hearing His word.● Bus service resumes with the beginning of public school, Friday, September 1. I will beat MAES after school during the first week to help our students get on the proper buses.● In honor of Labor Day, there will be no school on Monday, September 4.● All members of the congregation and our school community are welcome to attendchapel services, Wednesday, 8:30 AM. I hope to see you there. You will be blessed bythe word o