blind spots

From 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.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
Jesus 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 16:21-23

i'm pretty sure that Satan was not a friendly name in biblical times...i'm certain the meaning hasn't changed and Jesus wasn't actually trying to call Peter buddy, friend, homie...whatever...it meant the same thing!!! and it's not a warm fuzzy kind of name. and we can read these words with detached emotions, ok get behind me satan...yadda yadda no big deal. if my best friends called me SATAN i'd be CRUSHED, especially when i was trying to defend them. i think a lof of us have never been in a relationship that was so secure that we could call each other 'Satan'..or call eachother out in such a way.

I do not want to be a friend who only desires the comfort of my friends.

-we care more about not ROCKING the boat than who is actually IN the boat!-

On the surface, it sounds and feels better to make a troubled soul ‘feel’ better in moments of crisis and pain. it's easier too, to be encouraging and not have a awkward tension...but God’s truth is stronger than any human emotion…a deeper love looks past the moment and deals with the problem that is causing the negativity, even if it means pain and discomfort for a while.
Jesus is, of course, the epitome of this love in His relationships. Telling Peter that he is a hindrance to Him, recognizing Peter’s destructive thinking. Honestly, I’m sure I would have reacted the same way Peter did, ‘this could NEVER happen to you…I’ll protect you…I’ve got your back…” and I would have been extremely hurt by the cold response. but in actuality, Jesus responds in the most loving way possible. Jesus sees the whole picture, that He’s going to DIE for Peter so that he may live forever. Jesus is putting His comfort aside, and Peter's temporary comfort aside...because the eternal plan is in Peter's blind spot.

i pray that God will grant me the wisdom and courage to help friends navigate their blind spots, and also that my life would be filled with friends who would do the same.