Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal. In the wilderness, Satan had offered Christ the dominion of the world on condition of forsaking the path of humiliation and sacrifice. Now he was presenting the same temptation to the disciple of Christ. He was seeking to fix Peter's gaze upon the earthly glory, that he might not behold the cross to which Jesus desired to turn his eyes. And through Peter, Satan was again pressing the temptation upon Jesus. But the Saviour heeded it not; His thought was for His disciple. Satan had interposed between Peter and his Master, that the heart of the disciple might not be touched at the vision of Christ's humiliation for him. The words of Christ were spoken, not to Peter, but to the one who was trying to separate him from his Redeemer. "Get thee behind Me, Satan." No longer interpose between Me and My erring servant. Let Me come face to face with Peter, that I may reveal to him the mystery of My love.

Satan gjorde et forsøg på at tage modet fra Jesus og vende ham bort fra sin opgave, og i sin blinde kærlighed lånte Peter stemme til fristelsen. Det ondes fyrste var ophavsmand til tanken. Hans tilskyndelse var baggrund for denne impulsive henvendelse. Satan havde i ørkenen tilbudt Kristus herredømmet over verden på betingelse af, at han opgav ydmygelsens og opofrelsens vej. Nu fremkom han med den samme fristelse til Kristi discipel. Han prøvede at rette Peters blik mod verdens ære, for at han ikke skulle se korset, som Jesus ville vende hans blik imod. Og ved Peters hjælp trængte Satan atter ind på Jesus med sin fristelse. Men Frelseren ænsede ikke dette. Hans eneste tanke gjaldt hans discipel. Satan havde stillet sig imellem Peter og Mesteren, for at disciplens hjerte ikke skulle lade sig røre ved fremtidsbilledet af Kristi ydmygelse for hans skyld. Kristi ord blev ikke sagt til Peter, men til den, der forsøgte ,at skille ham fra hans Frelser. "Vig bag mig, Satan!" Stå ikke mere mellem mig og min vildfarne tjener. Lad mig stå ansigt til ansigt med Peter, så jeg kan åbenbare ham min kærligheds mysterium.