The Totality of Jesus' Path

Will we accept it when things get tough?

Peter’s the “typical” disciple, right? And we’re eternally grateful for his guinea-pigging of various stages of faith in the gospels.

John will intersperse the well-known story of Peter’s three-peat denial of knowing Jesus at the time of his trial. It is a familiar and poignant scene.

John tells us that Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. It’s worth pausing to consider what “following” means in this moment. Usually we understand the apostles to follow Jesus because of his call to them. And we also understand that many others followed Jesus based on what he was doing and teaching.

Why are these two following Jesus at this point? Is it care and concern? Curiosity? We can posit that it’s still based on their desire to take part in what Jesus can do. But as they are finding out what’s actually happening with Christ, they’re discovering that it’s not all miracles and food. Jesus had told them of this - that he would suffer and die. (In the other gospels, Peter argued with Jesus that he would not suffer or die.)

And Peter, not sure he wants any part of the struggle at this point, denies being a disciple.

So Peter typifies all those who want a certain part of who Jesus is and will follow him for those particular, incomplete reasons, but are not fully committed when they find out it might actually cost them something.

We know the rest of the story. Peter will figure it out. And legend holds that he himself will be willing to die a horrific death. But here, he’s not there yet. It’s a integral part of the struggle of Holy Week, leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Peter’s failure isn’t the end of his story—and neither is ours. But this moment reminds us: following Jesus means facing the whole story, not just the parts we like.

John 18:15-18

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Because this other disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. However, Peter stood outside near the gate. Then the other disciple (the one known to the high priest) came out and spoke to the woman stationed at the gate, and she brought Peter in. The servant woman stationed at the gate asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”

“I’m not,” he replied. The servants and the guards had made a fire because it was cold. They were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter joined them there, standing by the fire and warming himself.

Psalm 32:1-5

The one whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered over, is truly happy!
The one the Lord doesn’t consider guilty—in whose spirit there is no dishonesty—that one is truly happy!

When I kept quiet, my bones wore out; I was groaning all day long—every day, every night!—because your hand was heavy upon me. My energy was sapped as if in a summer drought. Selah

So I admitted my sin to you; I didn’t conceal my guilt. “I’ll confess my sins to the Lord, ” is what I said. Then you removed the guilt of my sin. Selah

Prayer

God,

Thank you for Fridays. They don’t mean as much to me personally as they used, but I enjoy watching others — like my kids — appreciate what Fridays bring.

I’m also grateful for Peter and the story the gospels and Acts have maintained concerning the journey of his faith. Lord, I have not yet been challenged in ways like he has. My life has been pretty easy.

So strengthen my heart now for the case that could eventually come. Keep me from fear. Give me wisdom. I want to be willing to follow Jesus to the end. So help me, God.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.