On the road again, it’s been while that I can write again … busy work and other travel enjoyment perks has distracted me all these times.
Anyway, a few days ago I was reading the following Mark 14:67-72 NIV[67] When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. [68] But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. [69] When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” [70] Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” [71] He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” [72] Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Somehow — those verses keep stuck in my mind, I kept thinking about Simon Peter, Jesus oldest disciples — it has preached may be a million times all over the world about how he has failed and disowned Jesus. But somehow, Holy Spirit has reveal another view about Simon Peter — Yes, he disowned Jesus but at least he was there!!
The bible only mentioned one disciple, and that was Simon Peter!!
He was the only one that actually followed Jesus while the rest were running away, only God knows where the rest of the disciples ran to.
Simon Peter was there!! Sure, he disowned Jesus three times, but he was human after all…..
One thing that most people don’t get how difficult it was for them seeing Jesus was arrested.
Their leader, their teacher, their best friend, their savior, their hope and future: Jesus Himself was arrested. If even Jesus was arrested, who can help them? The disciples had all their hope and faith dashed away when they how Jesus was arrested. They felt scared, confused and totally in the state of horror. Panic attack was an understatement.
But Simon Peter followed his teacher faithfully, when the rest had abandoned their hope, Peter still had his hope.
Maybe, I don’t know, just maybe, he hoped that his teacher would be found innocent and he could reunite with his teacher. Or maybe, he was trying to break free Jesus from the prison.
Regardless, he followed Jesus all the way and waited for Jesus.
Try to put ourselves into their shoes, most of us would probably run away without any hesitation. Who wouldn’t? Nevertheless, Simon Peter was there, the only one that was there.
Why he was there? And why he was the only one that was brave enough or stupid enough to be there?
Simon Peter was always the one that stand out, he was the oldest among Jesus disciples, he was always the first one stating his opinion whether it was appropriate or not, and he was that one that walked in water with Jesus.
And he was probably that got scolded the most by Jesus. What a unique character…And why he decided to follow Jesus, nobody knows?
The bible has no record on what was his intention? But all I know that Simon Peter must have a complete trust in Jesus.
He refused to give up, he clung unto Jesus. He was a faithful friend, and most of all he loved Jesus like his own family. Thus why, he kept walking to follow Jesus even it’s from a distance. And he kept waiting for Jesus, no matter how scary it was.
Not to mention, it was cold and frightening. It’s always in his nature to trust Jesus, he was the one that jumped and walked in the water with Jesus. He was the one that truly reveal who Jesus really was when Jesus asked the question to all the disciples.
His faithfulness and his love to Jesus was the reason that he kept walking and followed Jesus.
He was stubborn, he insisted to follow Jesus because he loved Jesus.
He loved Jesus so much, because it was Jesus first that loved him and accepted him when the world has given up on him. And these why the angel specifically mentioned Peter’s name after Jesus resurrection — read the following:
Mark 16:7 NIV
[7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”Peter was mentioned by name. It was Peter not the other 11. And Jesus knew all along who was Simon Peter and his faithfulness, thus why Jesus shared so much detail about his future. Jesus knew how powerful and faithful Peter would be.
Matthew 16:16-19 NIV
[16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Peter become so powerful to the point he has become our rock, our foundation for all churches throughout the world. And he was faithful until the end, he was even asked to be crucified upside down just because he felt that he wasn’t worthy enough to be crucified the same way like his savior.
Let’s learn from Simon Peter, let’s be stubborn to follow Jesus and being faithful no matter how difficult our surroundings are…
God has loved us first, so that we can love God with everything we got.
Trust that God the Father, He is our own Father who will always be good to us. A Father that will always be good with His children.
Trust our loyal friend and companion, Jesus Himself, He is our king, our friend and someone that has died for us in the cross. He is our true friend that will always be there for us.
Trust Holy Spirit, He will guide and help us. He is here with me, as I am writing this note. And I can’t express how grateful I am to have Holy Spirit with me at all times. He has helped more that I can remember and in the way that I can’t even imagine.
Jesus will call all of us by our name when our time come, but like Peter, I want to be loyal for Him, to be there for Him. It’s the least what we can do for Him.
Every time we are tempted to sin against God, like I did many many times and eventually failed most of the times, I would picture Simon Peter alone, cold, being afraid and surrounded by the people who hated him – but he was there for our Lord.
That picture should help us. Combine with the thought that we are crucifying Jesus every time we sin, should be more than enough to keep us walking away from sin. I hope that should be enough for me, Hope my short note can strengthen all of us
Let all Glory for God and God alone.
Inspired by my Bible and the Preacher’s Commentary apps on my phone
Balikpapan 08/03/2017