This is a test
This is only a test
Had this been an actual rebuke
I would not feel so strongly
That I am right
Like Phineas of old
I have had courage
To intervene
To say, Jesus, be encouraged
To know his pessimism is not prophecy
But a dark cloud, a mood that will pass
And I did not quote the psalm
To just wag the lip, or the finger
No
I am not ashamed
Jesus, you will ascend to your throne forever
Fame everlasting to all generations
Now is the time to bring aid to your city
To your people, who love even the dust of its streets
You will restore to Jerusalem its glory
For God has looked down from heaven with mercy
Sending salvation to those condemned to die
Yes, the name of Jesus will be praised in Zion
But he cut me off in mid-thought
Yes, Jesus lays the rebuke on me
Yet I am the rock, no stone for stumbling
I am not Satan
This is only a test
And like a dark cloud
Or a dismal mood
I shall pass
Ps. 107:2 – Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
It’s easy, in hindsight, to see Jesus’ rebuke in Matt. 16:21-23 for what it was intended to be. No so easy for Peter, in the moment. Here, I imagine that he responds positively to this “test” of his character, rather than negatively, precisely because of all the sniggering that probably came from his fellow disciples.
Also cf. Ps. 105:19, 106:30, 102:18-22, 102:23, and 105:37