Hey Church!
In our study of Peter’s infamous denials this week, I could not decide how to characterize this most fervent disciple whose boldness often got him in trouble and yet was loved by Jesus and always restored to Him after every fall.
Peter is one of the inner-circle three (with James and John) who were beloved by Jesus and fiercely loyal to His mission. On the one hand, he demonstrated a truly courageous faith. When Jesus walked on water, it was Peter who stepped out of the boat. When Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, it was Peter who first put up a fight (surely my Lord will not be my servant) but after Jesus explained the true meaning of the washing, turned and said, “Lord, then wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” When Jesus was being unjustly arrested, it was Peter who drew first blood–and no doubt would have fought to the death.
On the other hand, Peter’s courageous faith was often only flesh-deep. For this reason, of all the disciples, Peter was corrected most vehemently and often. Jesus did not applaud Peter’s faith for being the only one who stepped out of the boat. In fact, His words to Peter in the moment of his sinking were, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” In another instance, Peter tried to protect Jesus but received the sharpest rebuke of them all: “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus picked up the ear of the man Peter assaulted, and healed him, saying, “Enough of this” (i.e. “knock it off, Peter!”).
How do you feel about Peter? Was he arrogant and bullheaded? Or was there, perhaps beneath the surface, just a humble desire to do right by Jesus? After studying his life during this season, and particularly his denials this week, I tend to think he was more often the latter.
When we read about Peter’s life, it is only natural to make negative assumptions about his heart and motives. We forget, perhaps, that he was a human being, a simple fisherman called to evangelize the world in the name of the most controversial figure to ever live. He left his livelihood behind. He stood up for Jesus, to defend his life, mission, and honor before the highest, most powerful officials of the time. We read in Luke 22:54 that when they seized Jesus and took him to the high priest’s house, “Peter followed at a distance,” and we tend to assume that the qualifier “at a distance” was included in scripture to reveal something cowardly or half-hearted about Peter’s character.
But what would you do, if you were there? I don’t know that I would have followed the hoard that took Jesus to trial. In what scenario could I possibly fathom changing the outcome of Jesus’ predicament by doing so? But, for the sake of making my point, let’s just imagine that I did have the courage to show up as a disciple at my teacher’s interrogation. To do so under cover of darkness and anonymity, as Peter did, would be a life-or-death level of risk. But if I came loudly announcing my allegiance to the man they held in chains, would I not be a madman? No possible good can come of that scenario, and Peter had just learned that lesson in the garden–that Jesus’ mission would not be accomplished by the sword.
I think Peter was an incredibly gifted and faithful man. Just look at the sermon he preached in Acts 2! This man knew Jesus. And Jesus clearly loved him and desired to use him in a profound way. I, for one, am grateful that Peter’s story is included in the Bible because it gives stumbling disciples like myself confidence in the Lord’s desire to restore, redeem, and use me according to His glory and pleasure.
Your brother,
Ryan