Confrontation is not a dirty word.

Some thoughts on Matt 16;21-28:  Jesus tells His disciples what is to come regarding His suffering and death and His resurrection.  Peter tries to deny it and Jesus confronts him; tells him he is an offense, a stumbling block, that he is thinking like a man not like a disciple.  This must have been hard for Peter to hear, especially following his previous confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  But Peter needed to see that his present perception, his way of seeing things, was contrary to the will of God.  I find this somehow comforting.  Peter always seemed to struggle with this, and yet I believe it was his faith, not just individually but in example, upon which the church is founded.  I think Peter was truly and completely in awe of Jesus, in the majesty and mystery of Who He was, that he loved Him deeply and knew that he too was loved by this man, this Son of God clothed in humanity.

At this point Jesus knows His time here is short and what is coming, the physical and spiritual suffering he would endure, was probably weighing upon Him.  Peter’s comments were a distraction from the purpose and plan of His Father, a temptation to turn aside and take the “easy way out”.  

But He knew His death and resurrection would be Peter’s (and our) salvation.  That no matter how hard we may try - we will fail.  Only He could redeem that which was lost and restore what was broken.  We will stumble and fall but He has provided a way.  In our weakness He is strong; when we rely upon and cling to Him and live in the awe and wonder of Who He is and of His great love towards us who are called by His name.

In those times when we fail, Jesus will confront us.  Not to condemn us but to show us where our perspective needs adjusting, where our hearts need changing and always to reveal that we are loved and precious in His sight.