Mark 8:33 - Learn to Value What God Values

Mar.8:33 (KJV)  But when he had turned about and looked on his
disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou
savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Mar.8:33 (NIV)  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 things of God, but the things of men."

Mar.8:33 (NAS)  But turning around and seeing His disciples, He
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting
your mind on God's interests, but man's."

Mar.8:33 (TEV)  But Jesus turned around, looked at his
disciples, and rebuked Peter. "Get away from me, Satan," he said. "Your
thoughts don't come from God but from man!"

Mar.8:33 (NLT)  Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and
then said to Peter very sternly, "Get away from me, Satan! You are
seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."

Mar.8:33 (EAV)  But turning around [His back to Peter] and
seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind Me, Satan!
For you do not have a mind intent on promoting what God wills, but
what pleases men [you are not on God's side, but that of men].

Mar.8:33 (CWB)  Jesus rebuked the presence of demons, saying,
"Get behind me Satan!" Looking at Peter, He said, "You're throwing
your influence on the side of Satan, not on the side of God."

In this moment, Peter was not considering God's purposes, but
only his own natural human desires and feelings. Peter wanted Christ
to be king, but not the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53.
He was ready to receive the glory of following the Messiah, but not
the persecution.  The Christian life is not a paved road to wealth
and ease. It often involves hard work, persecution, deprivation, and
deep suffering. Peter saw only part of the picture. Don't repeat his
mistake. Instead, focus on the good that God can bring out of apparent
evil, and the resurrection that follows crucifixion. [Life Application
SB]

When Jesus told his disciples that his ministry would lead to
suffering and death, he was sharing a basic truth about life. When dealing
with the destructive effects of sin, victory is usually experienced
only after traveling a journey of pain and tears: No cross, no
resurrection. No pain, no gain. Jesus had to suffer in order to overcome the
destructive power of sin in our world. Our recovery from destructive habits
will also involve pain, but we should not let this discourage us.
Jesus has already paid the price for our sins. If we admit our
failures and accept God's forgiveness, we can be sure of our victory over
our addiction with God's daily help. [Life Recovery SB]

What an example of blurred vision! Peter recognized Jesus as the
Christ, but when Jesus began to speak of suffering and death, Peter
objected loudly!
Two things are important here. First, suffering was not
inappropriate to the role of Christ--and it's not inappropriate for the
Christian. If the Son of God suffered, we can expect God's other children
to experience suffering too. Only a person with blurred spiritual
vision could look at our suffering Saviour, and then expect the
Christian life to be all roses and no thorns.
Second, to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ implies affirming Him
as Lord. If Jesus is the Son of God, His will rather than ours must
rule. Peter was completely out of line objecting to God's will for
Jesus, even as at times we are out of line when we object to God's will
for us!
We need clear spiritual vision. We need to get beyond the stage
of seeing with distorted spiritual eyes. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]

Learn to Value What God Values
I will hear what God the Lord will speak" (Ps. 85:8). Blessed is
the soul which hears the Lord speaking within, and from His mouth
receives the word of consolation. Blessed are the ears that catch the
pulses of the divine whisper (Matt. 13:16, 17), and give no heed to the
whisperings of this world. Blessed indeed are those ears which listen not
after the voice which is sounding without, but for the truth teaching
inwardly. Blessed are the eyes that are shut to outward things, but intent
on things inward. Blessed are they that enter far into things
within, and endeavor to prepare themselves more and more, by daily
exercises, for the receiving of heavenly secrets. Blessed are they who are
glad to have time to spare for God, and who shake off all worldly
hindrances.
Consider these things, O my soul, and shut up the door of your
sensual desires, that you may hear what the Lord your God speaks in you
(Ps. 85:8).
Thus says your Beloved, "I am thy salvation," your Peace, and
your Life: keep yourself with Me, and you shall find peace. Let go
all transitory things, and seek the things eternal. What are all
transitory objects but seductive things? And what can all creatures avail,
if you are forsaken by the Creator?
Renounce therefore all things, and labor to please your Creator,
and to be faithful unto Him, that you may be able to attain unto
true blessedness. Thomas a Kempis [Time With God SB]