In Matthew 16 Peter goes 1 for 3 in understanding Jesus.  Peter (along with the other disciples) thinks that Jesus is upset with them for forgetting bread when really Jesus is warning them about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Then Peter gets it right when he says that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  But Peter follows that up with blunder of telling Jesus that Jesus is not allowed to die; to which Jesus famously responds, “Get behind me, Satan!”

I think there is a warning for us here about assuming we know God’s will.  If Peter, who was physically with Jesus, only got 1 out of 3, how can we presume to do any better?  It is desperately important for us to spend time with Jesus in prayer and in reading the record of his incarnation in the Bible.  In doing these things and seeking out the advice of other Godly Christians we can begin to learn God’s will.  However, we need to recognize that we will be wrong about some things we believe.  We need to always have the humility to listen to those who disagree with us.

Peter was guilty of theological arrogance when he denied the future death of Jesus saying, “Never Lord!”  Peter thought he knew what God’s will was and it certainly did not involve the death of Jesus.  But Peter’s theology needed to be shifted to be aligned with the will of God.

It’s always a painful process for our theology to be shifted.  I pray that God will send a tender voice into my life every time he shifts mine.