Jesus Rebukes Peter

The 1st Grand Tour parable is Jesus rebuking Peter. This is a parable about Adam gaining the world and loosing his soul.

The Story

This is the first Grand Tour parable. Being first, the pattern is not yet obvious. But, it is the first and the story being referenced is the fall of mankind from the Garden of Eden.

From Matthew

21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:2122Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Matthew 16:2223Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23
(Matthew 16:21-23 NIV)

From Mark

31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:31-3233But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Mark 8:33
(Mark 8:31-33 NIV)

Background

The literary structure of Mark has now suddenly changed. No longer does the author keep referencing travel by ship across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is now instructing them about himself.

This passage opens with a direct reference to the "Son of Man." This is a title Jesus has used for himself, but it is also a direct reference back to Adam. Adam is mankind when mankind is only one man. Jesus, the son of Adam, is the man Eve hoped for in order to redeem the race. Adam and Jesus map in various prophetic ways. Most notably the story of the history of Adam’s race, maps to Jesus life directly. Jesus is the word of God in the flesh. Jesus lives out the story of Adam’s race.

The opening verse in this section says that Jesus is now teaching about the resurrection of Jesus. By parable extension this is also going to point at the general resurrection of Adam’s race at the "last day." Each story in the following lesson sequences from Adam’s fall to Adam’s resurrection.

The Scene

The opening of this section in Mark finds Jesus speaking openly about what will happen to Jesus. Peter cannot believe this is going to happen and rebukes Jesus. Jesus responds by rebuking Peter. The specific rebuke, though, is directed at Satan.

In the Garden of Eden, Eve was seduced by Satan and then in turn seduced Adam. Adam, listening to Eve instead of paying attention to the things of God, agreed with what Satan had in mind.

In this parable the three figures are seen again. Jesus plays the role of Adam, Peter of Eve and Satan plays himself.

In this replay of the original story is different from the original in one very important way. Instead of listening to Eve, Adam rebukes Satan: "You have in mind the things of men rather than the things of God."

Jesus is adding an editorial: This is how Adam should have responded. Jesus did not end relationship with Peter. Jesus simply dealt with his sin.

The Timing

This is the start of a prophetic replay of the entire timeline. So we start at year 1 in the life of Adam, or 1 AA. We will be building out the timeline from here.

Taking up the Cross and Following Jesus

From Matthew

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:24-28
(Matthew 16:24-27 NIV)

From Mark

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38
(Mark 8:34-38 NIV)

Jesus calls the people to himself and explains more about what had happened and what is needed to fix it. Whoever whats to follow Jesus must deny themselves, take up Jesus’ cross and follow him.

This is not what Adam did in the Garden, and it patterns all the trouble seen in the human race ever since.

In Adam’s case he gained the whole world, he was cast out of Eden into the world. In the process he lost his sole.

Kingdom with Power

From Matthew

28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
(Matthew 16:28 NIV)

From Mark

1And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Mark 9:1
(Mark 9:1 NIV)

This final editorial on the story points back at Adam. There will be members of Adam’s race that will not see death before they see the kingdom come with power.

Phil Stone 2008-09-17 2021-01-06 2022-04-05