Blog 3803 – 04.21.2026

Who Is the Great Satan?

Many people have heard the story of Jesus’ disciple Peter bragging that if all the others deserted and betrayed Jesus that he would not and how Jesus predicted that before the cock crowed two time that Peter would deny him three times. Earlier Jesus had asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they replied, “Some say Elijah or some other prophet.” Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” And ole impulsive Peter spoke up, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God?” To that remark I was taught that Jesus said to him, “Peter (whose name that Jesus had given him meant ‘little rock’) you are a rock and upon this rock (referring to Peter’s declaration about Jesus identity) I will build my church.” The Roman Catholics interpret that verse to mean that Jesus was referring to Peter himself and that Peter would become the first Pope.

Many Bible Scholars and historians believe there was no Pope for the first hundred or so years of the early church just pastors or bishops over the growing congregations or churches throughout the Roman empire where the church first spread. Peter was supposedly the Bishop or pastor of the church in Rome.

Immediately after Jesus questions, the disciples answer, Peter’s great declaration, and Jesus announcing plans to build his church, Jesus went on to reveal his plan to enter the city of Jerusalem where he would be taken, tried, and crucified. Impulse Peter spoke up again and said in so many words, “Not so, no way, or may it never be, Lord.” To which Jesus replied, “Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savoriest not the things of God, but of man.”

Jesus called his arguable main man, his head disciple, Satan. Wow, but relax, the literal meaning of the word Satan is, “accuser of the brethren” I happen to believe that no one fits that title better than the only true enemy of our higher best souls than ego that false god we created so we that would have an choice an alternative to choosing to going with our highest best self.

The myth that has grown up about the great Satan is that he/she is almost if not as powerful as God him/herself. Waxing poetic, the Apostle Paul dispels this false notion by asking a question then answering it in the same passage:

Some people believe that the Great Satan is a fallen angel. Many people accuse people who do not look, think, or believe like them of being an enemy therefore deserving of death and destruction. In reality those we would quickly accuse and label “others and strangers” are but brothers we have yet to get to know. I often quote a line from a rock song, words to me that are as inspired and holy as any words in the canon of books will call the Bible: “Their ain’t no good guys, their ain’t to bad guys, there’s only you and me, and we just disagree.”

My higher best self cannot justify destroying a whole civilization, bombing any group of people into the Stone Age, nor the killing of innocents for oil. Such words sound like the disciples James and John (the sons of thunder) who being rejected by one town who refused their preaching asked Jesus permission so they could call down fire from heaven upon the people of that place. Jesus denied their request and rebuked them saying, “You know not what spirit you are of.” I think Jesus knew well that lying little voice of ego, Satan, the accuser of the brethren, who has no greater joy that seeing us at war with our brothers and sisters and destroyed one another.

That lying ego can make even a quote from the movie Pulp Fiction sound like a directive from the God of War to my brother Pete Hegseth who calls himself the Secretary of War not of Defense. Pete, I love you, brother but even in your most sober moments you must admit you are not qualified by temperament nor experience to be the Secretary of Defense. Nor is in my humble opinion the man who appointed you to that office. You should resign before he throws you under the bus blaming this whole misguided “excursion” (War) on you.

President Lincoln, our first and I think best Republican Presidential wrote once before the Civil War, called The War Between the States by the South, that he hoped our higher best angels would prevail. They did not and a half a million soldiers died and many more than that were maimed for life, before that war was over. Over a hundred years later our country is still divided over basic issues that war did not settle for some.

Who do you think the Great Satan is? Which voice are you listening to, the still small loving voice of peace or the loud accusing voice of war. One description of puny lying little ego is that Satan goes about like roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. Cain listened to that liar and killed his brother.

Your friend, fellow traveler, and brother,

David White