Get Thee Behind Me Satan - Mark 8:33

Mark wrote how Jesus “charged” His disciples “that they should tell no man of him. 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. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-three of his book, Mark shared how Jesus, “rebuked Peter” where we read:

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for you savor not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

The verse reads, “But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, ...” Mark began with the words, “but when” which means “however, nevertheless, more over and at the time and moment” “he had turned about” or “Jesus turned back” “and looked on his disciples” which means “and saw His students, pupils and attendants”, “he rebuked Peter” or “Jesus adjudged, chided, reproved, admonished and censured severely Peter whose name means little rock or stone” “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” His next words. Mark shared how Jesus looked back at His “disciples” and began to “reprove and admonish” “Peter” with the following words.

The verse continues, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for you savor not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Mark added the words, “Get thee behind me” which means “You withdraw, be lead under, bring under and withdraw yourself”, “Satan” who is “the prince of evil spirits and the inveterate adversary of God and Christ”: “for you savor” which means “because, since and on account that Peter seeks, directs his mind to and strives for” “not the things” or “no and in no way the particular actions, attitudes and ways” “that be of God” which means “that pertain and belong to the only and true God who is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “but the things that be of men” which means “nevertheless the actions, attitudes and ways that pertain to people whether male or female”. Mark shared how Jesus saw “Satan” working through Peter at this time, and He told the “devil” to “get behind” Him. “Satan” influences those who follow Him not to love and strive for Godly eternal things, but rather “temporal earthly things” which shall fade away.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus looked at His disciples and “rebuked” “Peter”. In our last verse, Peter attempted to “rebuke” Jesus for telling His disciples about His future, and Jesus returned His “chiding” to Peter. God loves people, but when they “disagree” with Him, they are always wrong. Jesus Christ came into the world to “save sinners”, and those who yield to Him completely shall live forever with His Father God. Those who are wise will learn when “Satan” is attempting to influence them against God in their attitudes, actions and ways.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".