Jesus Who? “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not. As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” John 18:17 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the oliv e grove?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. John 25-27 Peter witnessed Jesus heal people, bring people back to life, turn morsels into meals for thousands, pull nets full of fish in, calm a storm, walk on water, and perform all sorts of miracles. Peter knew Jesus was the Son of God. When Jesus was arrested, Peter went into battle mode; he cut the ear off one of the soldiers. Jesus put the ear back and told Peter to put away his sword. He told Peter this was what his Father sent him for. Poor Peter, he had a rough night. He had even been scolded by Jesus once or twice at dinner. Jesus even said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan,” because Peter was seeing things only from a human point of view and not God’s. When Jesus was taken into the temple for his brutal interrogation, Peter was right outside. Peter had been told at dinner by Jesus that he would deny him three times. Peter was probably quite confused by Jesus’ statement. But there he was in the temple court. When asked if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he said, “Jesus who?” That is not quite what he said. What he said was, no. He had to say it three times. All eyes were on him. Peter probably thought the people would just snatch him up too. Then the rooster crowed, just as Jesus told him it would after his third denial of knowing Jesus. I am not Peter’s defense attorney, but what I see is a friend filled with fear, not only losing a dear friend, but afraid for his own life. Again, Peter had acted human, not viewing the situation as God did. Peter was human. He still did not have a full comprehension of who Jesus really is; he knew the words but not the whole truth, not what was still to occur. Jesus looked into Peter’s eyes, and Peter broke down and wept bitterly. Peter knew what he had done. Later Peter was reconciled by Jesus. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Three times, Peter said yes. Three times, Peter was given a new mission to care for Jesus’ people. You and I have also been reconciled to God, our Father, through the awesome sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We have been forgiven. Now God has a call for us, just as he had for Peter. Jesus gave us the great commission: see Matthew 28:16-20. Not only did he forgive Peter and us, but he also said, “Okay, move on. Go to work. You get it, now make more disciples” (paraphrase). Today, I want to shout from the rooftops, “Yes, I am a disciple of Jesus. Jesus is my Savior. I believe. I know. I have faith. Can you hear me? I am a disciple of Jesus!” I don’t know what I would have done in the time of Jesus’ arrest. I wasn’t there, but Peter was. Peter was also a disciple of Jesus, who, like me, had a period of doubt and fear. God restores us from doubt and fear to assurance in him. Go to him in study, prayer, and meditation. You will see. He will let you know who he really is. From my book a prodigal return reflections from a grateful heart Ken Jones
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 16:47:07 +0000