Peter's Blunder: A Short Lesson

 

If you're like me, you've been enjoying The Chosen as a great binge substitute. I especially love how the portray the twelve and give them their own unique personalities while also trying to stay biblicaly accurate. I specifically enjoy seeing Peter's character develop, even if they do extrapolate a little bit.

Speaking of Peter, my quiet time was in  John 18 this morning, which records Gethsemene through Jesus's arrest from John's perspective - a perspective that's important to identify, given that John witnessed firsthand just about everything he writes, especially this chapter. 

I won't take you through it all, but most of us who are fairly familiar with the Gospel, know that with Jesus's arrest come Peter denying that he knows Jesus three times before the rooster crows, as Jesus predicted. What struck me today, was that - as John reminds us - denying Christ was Peter's second failure. All four accounts of the Gospel mention that one of the disciples pulls out a sword, and cuts the ear of the servant of the High Priest . . . but only John identifies that disciple as Peter. 

When I saw these two instances, I realized Peter's two blunders on the same night - his violent reaction to the mob, and his denial of Jesus - can both be understood even more clearly when we take the time to realize that Peter actually set himself up for failure . . . his environment primed a bad decision. If we look at what Peter is recorded at doing before these two events, we find that he was:

        1. Sleeping 

        2. Warming himself by a charcoal fire

Are either of these two things bad to do? No. Not in isolation. However, consider this: Jesus told Peter to stay awake and pray! And yet . . . Peter slept. 

When Peter was warming himself, he was following Jesus at a distance and seeking comfort. 

To me, this made things clear: I'm at my most vulnerable to mess up when I am going against the Words of Jesus, and when I'm following Jesus at a distance, and seeking comfort. 

Maybe rather than seeking comfort, we ought to seek peace. And where else can peace come from than from the Prince of Peace himself: Christ Jesus. For nothing brings me more peace than to know that I'm constantly seeking His will in obedience. When I do this, and I still fail (daily, I might add) I don't seek comfort from my shame, I seek peace in the grace and mercy of Christ. 

Let's learn from Peter's bluder . . . Obey Jesus, and Follow Him closely.