Peter had big ideas and bold ambitions. He had promised never to leave Jesus, even if that meant going to prison and death with Him (Luke 22:33). But Peter had no thought of going to prison and death in order to glorify Jesus. So it must have been a shock when the Lord Jesus told Peter that he would also be crucified.
 
Jesus knew Peter to be a self-motivated man. He made plans and achieved whatever he wanted. Although that habit was modified when Jesus was clearly in charge, it still remained in his character. But Jesus had other plans. Peter could not glorify God in his own way: and the path of glory for Peter would be like that of His Master – through the cross. Of course, Peter’s eventual crucifixion would not save the world (only Jesus could do that); but because it was the Lord’s choice, his willingness to accept suffering and shame for the name of Christ would bring glory to God.
 
It is a mark of true discipleship to accept that God has the right to allow suffering to come to His people, because it will glorify Him. It may not be what we choose (in our flesh), but if we let the Lord choose our pathway then even the worst of pain will be sanctified. We sometimes feel that it would be more bearable if we could understand the reason; but the only explanation is that the Lord has allowed it and therefore glory will come to Him as we accept it. This is not our natural thinking which is why we need today’s passage … preparing us for the road ahead and giving the Lord room to lead where we might have no imagination or desire to go. As we accept His way, He gets the glory, others get the blessing and we are filled with joy (James 1:2-7). Peter obviously learned that lesson because he wrote 1 Peter 1:3-9 . Let us not be so much in control that we resist the Lord’s route to glory.