“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” (Mark 8:31-33)

In Mark 8:31–33 Jesus rebuked his disciple Peter for attempting to dissuade him from going to the cross. He already had wrestled with this temptation in the wilderness and would face it again in the Garden of Gethsemane. The devil had offered him the kingdoms of the world for bowing down to him. Now one of his closest friends tempted him to reject the cross. Jesus’ strong rebuke revealed his commitment to his Father’s will more than irritation with Peter. He had just established with his disciples who he was. Now he wanted them to also comprehend his upside-down kingdom where authentic power and influence are based on fulfilling the Father’s will. Peter had no understanding of this type of Messianic leader, defined by sacrificial love. He failed to understand that the path of true leadership is a refining process of death to self and fame, a rejection of personal aims and motivations. Without a cross, there can be no crown. 

KEY QUESTIONS: What are my motivations for leadership? In what ways could I die more to self? Am I overprotective of my children or those I lead who would benefit from embracing a “cross” in their journey? If so, how could I change that?