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The Preparation of Peter the Rock



Spiritual Thought of the Day

They say, all men must be tried like Abraham to merit eternal exaltation. After pondering the acts of Peter throughout the New Testament, it would seem that this intrepid, shamelessly faithful Apostle would have done just about anything to have pleased or defended the Savior.

The three examples that primarily come to mind are:

1. Peter leaping out of his fishing vessel and swimming to shore once he recognized the Savior instead of waiting for the wind to take the ship in, like the rest of the Apostles. In John the Beloved's words, "he girt his fisher's coat unto him (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. (John 21:7)

2. Peter beseeching the Savior to wash all of him instead of just his feet, once he understood its significance at the Last Supper. (John 13:6-12)

3. Peter smiting off the Jewish, night guard's ear to protect the Savior in Gethsemane. I wonder if Peter understood his purpose for being on the Mount of Olives at all that night. I don't think I do for sure. I'm sure the thought crossed his mind, "Maybe Jesus stationed us at these different spots in order to act as lookouts and defend him in the case of an attack!" (Matt 26:51-54)

I wonder if Peter's test of faith wasn't to do something, like it was for Abraham, but to restrain himself from doing something.

In Mark 14:29-31, Peter and the Savior are speaking towards the end of the Last Supper. Just after Judas parted from the 12, Peter reassures the the Savior in verse 29, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I." Then comes the challenge from the Savior's lips: "Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in the this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice."

Until recently, I've assumed that this was simply a prophecy; but what if it was actually given as a commandment? What if Christ intended for Peter deny him? Might those three lies, that Peter uttered, have been the commandment most difficult for him to keep? Might those acts of betrayal, so natural to any ordinary man, have been the crucible that forged Peter's soul and prepared him to testify that much more vehemently in the mission (Mark 6:7) he was called to perform?

Is it possible? Yes or No?


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Comments

  1. NoelleMon Jan 26, 06:40:00 AM MST

    Interesting thought, though I'm not sure I agree.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CourtneyMon Jan 26, 03:59:00 PM MST

    I think it is possible. For sure. I love Peter! Thank you for this post.

    ReplyDelete

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