"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. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 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 said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
In today's quote Jesus informed His apostles that He would go into Jerusalem to complete His divine calling and be sacrificed for the sins of the world.
It's interesting to note that in yesterday's quote, Jesus announced the establishment of His church with Peter as it's first member, giving him "the keys to the kingdom". And then, in today's text, Jesus, speaking directly to Peter after he had rejected the thought of Jesus offering Himself up as a sacrifice, said; "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."
This text makes it very clear in my mind that Jesus never intended that Peter was to be an authority over the other apostles, and was most certainly not to be the head of His church, as is asserted by Roman Catholicism and other heretical doctrines.
The fact that Peter held no authority over the Apostles is further confirmed in Matthew 18:4 wherein Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
In essence, there is not "greatest" in Christ's church. We are all equals in the sight of God.~
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