Mark 14:32-72
We're looking at the crucifixion story from Mark this weekend. Our account begins with Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane and ends with a mini trial in the court yard of the high priest. Jesus behaves incredibly throughout. What an example.
Unfortunately, we can't say the same about Peter. From start to finish, he pretty much fails miserably. So as I read I was kind of focused on Peter and then I got to verse 72. The rooster has just crowed for the second time and reality hits. This is what follows: "And he [Peter] broke down and wept." I felt sad immediately--for Peter but also for me because I could so identify with his failures. I've certainly been there. Haven't we all? Well, this passage ended on a down note, but Peter's story doesn't end here. Peter was restored and he went on to do tremendous things for the Lord.
So what does this passage and Peter's story show us about us? Our walk as a Christian? Our relationship with the Lord? Our service? Tami W.
Peter is so much like us it's incredible! I guess, that's why our Lord has parts of his life in Scripture for us. We see the highs/lows in his life; just like we all experience. But Peter always looked to his Source (ie Jesus) for healing/restoration. We need to follow him in this too!
We are human. We are going to have failures, disappointments, regrets. God does not beat us over the head with these moments and we shouldn't beat ourselves. Ask forgiveness, learn from the mistake, move forward. God will take the most negative things in our life and use them for His glory. Let Him.
Jesus knew Peter was to be tempted...he got upset with Peter for falling asleep in the garden...."watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation..." We should so heed Jesus' warning and be in prayer each morning, so as to not fall into temptation. I know I am prepared for the day when I begin it rightly with the Lord, yet, it is sooo true: "the spirit is willing,but the body is weak." My greatest prayer for myself and all who follow Jesus is that we would begin each day with our daily bread and thus resist the temptations of the day.
Intentions...Peter had good intentions, but he did as Jesus knew he would - fail. Oh can I relate to that! I have lots of intentions - read my Bible daily, keep up the housework, go to bed early, go visit this or that person...the list goes on. Do I get them all done? No! It is a good thing that God know and forgives me, as Jesus did Peter later on. God understands our humanity (after all, He did create us), which is a very good thing. He allows us the opportunity to decide for ourselves - also a good thing. When we blow it, we realize more the greatness of God's love for us - and how much we need Him.
One thing we must realize is that on our own we can do nothing for God. Our own strength is not enough for us to stand the test of time.
Peter believed in himself, he was self confident, he said- Mark 14:31- "Even if i die i will not deny you. But he denied Christ because he was self confident, he didn't have the power, the courage to identify himself with christ for he was afraid, his own strength failed him.
But as soon as peter received the Holy Spirit, he was able to identify himself with Christ, he spoke boldly to the same people who crucified Jesus. For he had power, courage from the Holy Spirit, he relied on the Holy Spirit.
We will fail in our Christian walk if we depend on our own strength, if we are self confident. But if we keep relying on the Holy Spirit we will never deny the Lord. We will be faithful in our service to the Lord. Our God is able to keep us from stumbling or failing-Jude 1:24
Amen, Blessing! Oh the guilt Peter must have felt. The guilt I have felt sometimes, when I know I should witness to my co-workers and let the opportunity pass, or later think "I should have said this or that." John 15:5 Jesus tells us "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Once again the key is remaining in Christ, daily, often moment by moment relying on the Holy Spirit living in me, through me.
Yes we must be connected to the Vine since we are only branches. Love and many blessings for a Wonderfulled Easter.
This is a timely message from Anchor at Haven.I hope it is ok to share.
"We concur with Pastor Keller {church name removed] in New York City who said we are "more sinful, evil and weak than we ever dared believe." Yet we rejoice in the knowledge that just as certainly true is God's promise that we are "more valued, accepted and loved than we ever dared hope." "
The Scripture tells me that no matter how much we love Our Lord and Savior; no matter how we promise to follow Him, we can all fall while carrying our cross for Jesus Christ. Our walk, our talk and our relationship can seem to be fully for Christ, but then we can stumble and lose our way. However, we have a Savior who is forgiving. He is longsuffering and the Holy Spirit to lead us back on the Narrow road carrying our cross and following Our Lord.
We must stay in pray. Praying for others and our own walk with the Father. We must keep our mind in the Book! Studying and learning how and what we should be doing. We must know that we will never know everything there is in the Bible, but we never have to stop learning and leaning on God.
I wasn't going to comment but here I am. It gives me hope that even Peter failed Jesus. Knowing that I can forgive myself when I fail. And that is a good thing, so I can go on and encourage others to know the true Christ.
I had experiences, one in particular, that made me feel like Peter in some ways. The one in particular, the Lord used to show me something He was trying to teach me for years, but I never got it. The experience lost me a job I really loved, but took for granted because I stepped into areas I probably shouldn't have gone. But what I didn't see till now is that Peter learned from that and was restored by the power of the Holy Spirit thru Jesus's prayers and not only went on, but went on in power that he never had on his own. We can do that to. I may never get that job back, but I can go on in the power of the Holy Spirit and still do greater things for Christ in the future, no matter how old I am...there's no age with God. He forgives us, no matter what, if we humbly come to Him and ask, and then receive it....
You know what? I feel sorry for Peter. As we read the New Testament we saw how much Peter loved Jesus and Peter to me was the "fun" disciple. We always have the best intentions but some time when trials come our way we concentrate on the trials instead of Jesus. It is hard at first, but as soon as we get our thoughts together we realise that we have not practised what we say we would do. So I could never condemn Peter nor any of the disciples who left Jesus at the garden.
What I do pray almost everyday for is, that the Lord will always strenghen me so that I would never, ever disown Him and I know in my heart and believe that He will do so. God is always so slow to chide and swift to bless. He is a forgiving Father and He will see us through it all. Have a blessed day.