That Silly Guy Peter

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.' But, after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galiee." Peter said to Him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." But, he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same." -Mark 14:26-30

I am a person who overthinks and grows anxious easily. 

What if this doesn't work out? 

What if they don't understand? 

What if I say the wrong thing? 

What if I can't love them the way that they need? 

What if they reject me?

What if I fail? 

What if I don't truly believe in Christ? 

What if I betray Him? 

Then, I become defensive and harden my heart, saying, 

Oh, but I know the Truth! 

I surely would never do that to my Lord! 

I know better! 

They don't understand! 

Surely, I am in the right here! 

It's so easy to think that Peter was just a silly guy and we are stronger than he was or for our hearts to sink when we truly face our "failure" before the Lord. Yes, it is sin, but it is also the mercy of the Lord, showing us that, of course, we CANNOT do it. 

So, why should we not be defeated by this? 

Because Jesus not only knows, but the Father has shown Him what has been planned from the beginning of time. He knows when and where we will reject Him. He knows our hearts better than us. 

Jesus said, "Okay, my beloved followers. I know and this is GOING to happen." Not if but when. "And, I love you. I'm still doing it all for you."

And, He did. He is the One who still set it all aside and died for us, perfectly becoming the sacrifice that God's just wrath poured out on. Not only did God pour out His wrath on His Beloved Son, but His Son drank from this cup of wrath that we deserved. 

"If you have to deny reality to get peace, you are not exercising Biblical faith. But, if you allow yourself to meditate on the realities of a fallen world, you're going down. So, you face those realities, but meditate on the glory of God! Awe is a longing! We are hardwired for eternity. Everything that is difficult and hard is a cry for a better world and everything that is good and beautiful is a taste of a better world.... We long for paradise because God will be in the center, unchallenged! And we will be in awe of God forever and ever and ever!" -Paul David Tripp (in an interview concerning his book, Awe.)

He receives sinful men. 

The ones who emphatically insist that they will never betray, let alone deny, their Lord, but do.  

The ones who say that they will die for their Teacher, but instead listen, ashamed to be associated with Him, by the fire as He is on trial falsely. 

The ones who fall asleep when He asks them to stay awake with Him before He is taken for their sake. 

He died for them. He drew them to Himself. He saved them. Not because they were the cream of the crop. Not because of their ability to believe, figure it out and obey. 

He made them His sons and daughters, saying, "Now, because of what I have done, you will share with Me what the Father will give me! Life with Him eternally!" 

This is for US!  

Do not fear. Do not listen to the what-ifs. The One who came to save us is greater than the one who whispers lies and tries to draw us away. 

Do not despair when you sin, but go to the One who will delightfully forgive you and change your heart. 

Because of Christ.

I am Peter. We are all Peter. We say, "I will follow you, Lord." And, we fail Him. But, praise the Lord, it is not our ability to obey that saves us, but Christ Jesus's life, death and resurrection that saves us. And through this saving grace, our hearts are changed to follow Him more and more. So we say, "No, no. It could never be me. I am not strong enough. It was always Him. Praise be to God. He saved a sinner like me." 

"New Every Morning" - Audrey Assad from Inheritance https://open.spotify.com/track/2J99v7FF6WQDMxaWPqM2Hg 

"He Will Hold Me Fast" - Keith and Kristyn Getty 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=936BapRFHaQ

Parable of a Dead Man- original song