The Demonic is Contempt of the Cross

October 25, 2018

What is the demonic from the biblical point of view? It is contempt of the cross. Let us go back to the meeting our Lord held in the half-pagan, half-Jewish city of Caesarea Philippi.  Our Lord then asked the most important question that can be asked of anyone. Finally, when Peter had given the answer, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,' our Lord immediately said, 'I must go up to Jerusalem to be crucified to be delivered over to the Gentiles and on the third day rise again.' As soon as the Lord had said that, Peter laid hold of his arm and said, 'This shall not be.'  I am willing to have a divine Christ but I am not willing to have a suffering Christ. Our Lord said, 'Get behind me, Satan.' Do not try to lead me. I lead you. Our Lord called Peter 'Satan.' Why was he Satan? Because he was tempting our Lord away from the cross.