Peter failed when he didn’t realize how important the CROSS was!

Mt 16:21-23 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, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

When Jesus came into this world….
The wise men said, “the king of Jews is born”.
Herod got afraid, thinking his reign will be over.
Apostles said, When you restore your kingdom, Remember us.

They thought that Jesus is going to establish a physical kingdom & dying on the cross was out of their agenda. That is why Peter rebuked Jesus.

For a man to be found Righteous in the sight of God, he had to fulfill all 1632 Laws. And if he fails just in one, then he couldn’t qualify to be stand before God. ( James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it). So man couldn’t keep all 1632 laws. When Jesus came into this world, He came to fulfill the law for us. (Mt 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them). The sole purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to save mankind. Satan tried to stop him from going to the cross from the time He came into this world. That is why He told Peter “Get behind me you Satan”.

Because Jesus went to the cross… 
Our sins have been forgiven.
We have been made Righteous before God.
We have become son’s & Daughters of God.
We are being healed from all sicknesses.
All the curse taken away from our lives & many more.

Jesus, who was crucified on the cross for us should be the central of all our preaching. People can be saved only when we lead then to Christ & not to any denomination or a pastor or a preacher. It was only Jesus Who died for us on the cross.

The Cross also resembles, SACRIFICE.

Without the Cross, There is no Throne. Without the crown of Thrones, There is no crown of glory. Jesus said, we will be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. The path to heaven is a Narrow one. We have to endure pain, Suffering, Loneliness, betrayals, starvation, for the sake of the gospel. Without Pain there is no gain. (Rom 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory).

Today many believers come to church when everything is going well. But the moment they face some troubles, they stop coming to church. They say,”Why God allowed this or that to happen in my life?”. These kind of believers want only blessings & reject Suffering & Pain. That’s where Peter Stumbled.