Peter Fails

What do we do in a crisis, when our world is falling apart? Quite often, the worst comes out of us.

In John 18, as the guards come to arrest Jesus, we see our Savior collected and in control. Everything is unfolding exactly as God planned.

Peter, on the other hand, is at his worst. Even after four chapters (John 14–17) of Jesus warning His disciples about what is about to happen and preparing them for the trauma, Peter completely fails the test. He is completely undone by Jesus’ arrest and responds in the flesh, instead of responding in the spirit. Peter fails to imitate Christ at the moment it matters the most.

Unlike Peter, though, we have the big picture. We see the cross and empty tomb of Jesus. We see Him ascending on high, to reign and rule from His heavenly throne. We’ve experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit, and we’ve been transformed so we can live the crucified life in Christ.

When the next test comes, we don’t have to be like a “Simon Peter"—we can be like Jesus!

Peace,

~Jeff