Peter, Peter, Peter! Oh, to be as passionate as Peter! He would be the one you want at your next party. He would be the one to give the emotional toast at a wedding. He would be the one to encourage you, challenge you to go further. He would be the star in the room. We see in Matthew today a portion of his story.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:50b-56, John 18:10
Have your actions ever gotten ahead of your logical brain? Have your words slipped out? Have you deserted a difficult situation? Has your silence and retreat caused pain to others and yourself? These men in this story were faced with incredible choices. They were scared, confused, and ready to make a stand. Haven’t we all been there?
And then, we find Peter stepping forward to defend Jesus, his Lord. This same Peter who moments ago could not stay awake to pray, was suddenly a swashbuckling sword fighter. And just a quickly, Jesus sets him straight in his thinking. His passion was beautiful; however, his action was not.
This week, I’m asking myself some questions from this scene for I too, act rashly at times. At times, I fight, I flee from Him, and I deny Him.
I cut off ears, not literally, but I cut off people who believe differently, I hasten to judgement and declare “I know best,” but isn’t that a sword too? How can people hear if in my need to defend, I’ve cut off their ears so that they cannot hear?
I hear His whisper: Put down the sword of your self-righteous words. Put down the sword of your sour look. Put down the sword of your need to ‘be right.’ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Peter got through the week and then the following month. He listened, he stayed, and he acknowledged his need to grow into a Christlikeness. After that time, he preached his first sermon. And thousands heard the loving sword of his words that day and thousands responded to that love.
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17