By: Eric Comer
I have been privileged to go to Mexico on three separate mission trips. Once with men from our church, and twice with my family. Each time we connected with Pastor Daniel and I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with his churches.
On the last trip, in 2010, I was invited to share at a missions outreach being hosted by his sending church in San Diego. The church has a mobile hospital tent that had just returned from Haiti. They were deploying it in the Tijuana area for community outreach and healthcare, and wanted me to share at a community rally the following weekend.
Our youngest son and eldest daughter, along with a couple of grand kids, were travelling with us. As I was considering what to share, the story of Peter came to mind. Aside from Jesus, Peter is my favourite New Testament character. Here’s what I was thinking.
Peter is a rather interesting fellow. Known for his impulsive and sometimes silly or misguided actions. Peter had a tendency to not think things through before he acted on them. You might say the processing part of his brain was not very efficient. You may also deduce that perhaps he was a little ADHD. Now, of course, I’m saying all this tongue-in-cheek, because I don’t really know. But why would I suggest that?
Here’s what I was learning. Matthew 4 is the first time Simon meets Jesus. Simon enthusiastically declared and confessed Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus changed his name to Peter, the rock, and said “on this rock I will build my church.” Jesus had a plan but Peter didn’t get it.
Matthew 14 records that at the height of a storm, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. We know the story. Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to concern himself with the storm around him and began to sink. In Peter’s defence, it’s worth noting that Peter was the only one who got out of the boat. As well, I often wonder who Jesus was talking to when He said, “Oh ye of little faith.” Was it just Peter or all of the disciples? Matthew recorded it, so they heard what was said. Just an observation, regardless, Peter was still clueless.
In Matthew 16, and also Mark 8, as Jesus was predicting His own suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter pulls Him aside and rebukes Him. I will not allow that to happen, he proclaims. Jesus then referred to him as a stumbling block and told Satan to get behind Him. Peter was misunderstanding the mission of the Messiah.
In John 13, just before the Last Supper, Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet to demonstrate service, humility, and love. Peter said, well, then, wash all of me. Peter was not processing what was happening. Following that, Jesus began to explain that He was going away for a bit. Peter was insistent that he wanted to go with Him; Peter said that he would be willing to die for Him. Jesus then predicted that Peter would disown Him three times before the rooster crows in the morning. Still not processing what Jesus is saying.
John 18 records that when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off a servant’s ear. Jesus healed the servant, told Peter to put his sword away, and said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Peter still didn’t get it. And all the gospels record Peter denying Jesus three times, as Jesus predicted.
Now, back to Mexico. As I was reviewing Peter’s denial, I came across an interesting verse, found only in Luke’s gospel and after the third denial. Luke 22:61 says, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’” (NIV) It goes on to say that Peter wept bitterly.
I was asking myself, what is the significance of that one particular phrase? What was the look? Was Jesus angry with Peter, was He disappointed or frustrated? At the same time, my grandson was “acting out.” My daughter took him by the face and looked him straight in the eyes and said, “TITUS, JUST LISTEN!” It wasn’t a look of anger or condemnation. She didn’t yell or scream at him. All she wanted was for Titus to do a job she had for him.
And then it hit me. I believe Jesus’ look was a silent communication of compassion, conviction and sorrow. A look of profound desire for Peter to just get it. I think that at that point Peter’s life started to change.
After the resurrection and on the way to his (Peter’s) restoration he continued to do some silly things. Many scholars also interpret Peter’s statement in John 21, “I am going fishing,” as a sign that Peter was ready to give up. But in Acts 4, when the Sadducee’s ordered him to quit preaching Peter defied the order and prayed for more boldness. He was finally getting it.
Through all of his impulsiveness and failures, Jesus had a plan for Peter, a job for him to do. A great plan to build the church.
Sometimes, Jesus has to look us right in the eye and say, “JUST LISTEN!”
Alistair Begg (Truth for Life) noted that “failure in Christ is never final.” Our challenge is to not let our failures define or defeat us. In the end, Peter sure didn’t.
