What is it behind this confrontation between Jesus and Peter? (see earlier post) Jesus has made plain what he sees in his future and it is not pretty. It is not all that surprising based on everything we have seen to guess that the religious leaders of Jesus’ time were antagonistic toward him and that they would do whatever to silence Jesus. Peter is not ready to face the plain truth or feels Jesus is wrong. He’s got to get Jesus off this wrong track so he pulls Jesus aside for a little “course correction.” Jesus is clear about not needing a course correction and wants the other disciples to know that, hence the rebuke of Peter, not privately but in the presence of the other disciples.

I find myself in the same boat as Peter, not wanting to face the truth. I already know how it’s going to turn out in the story and I don’t like it. I wish it could be different but it is not going to be. Reality checks are rarely comfortable- I’d much rather get a rose-colored depiction of things to come sometimes (maybe more than sometimes). Jesus calls ‘em like he sees ‘em. Maybe we’d all do better not to tiptoe around the truth so much and face it head on…