Today we celebrated the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples. We are getting so close to Easter. Here is part of Mark's account of a conversation just after the Last Supper.
"You will all fall away,' Jesus told them, 'for it is written:
'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.'
Peter declared, 'Even if all fall away, I will not.'
'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'today... yes, tonight... before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.'
But Peter insisted emphatically, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the others said the same."
Mark 14:27-31
Peter was zealous. Peter was so sure that he could stand alone. Look at his two sentences in this passage. In two sentences Peter says "I" three times. Peter said "I" three times because he was so confident in his own strength.
Jesus then told Peter that before the rooster crowed twice Peter would disown Him three times. Three times Peter spoke of his own strength and three times his own strength would fail him.
This story is not here for us to think, "Silly Peter! How could he disown Jesus?" The story is here to show us that if we rely on our strength we will fail even when we attempt to do good. What Peter swore was a good thing, but his source of strength was severely misplaced.
Make big commitments to Christ but trust in His strength to accomplish the task not your own. Peter would go on to accomplish mighty things but not until he was shown that his weakness revealed God strength.
Give up trying to do it on your own. Drop the "I" statements in your relationship and commitment to Christ. Rely on Him solely today.
Or rather, Peter would go on to accomplish mighty things but not until he had received the Holy Spirit. Just a thought.
ReplyDeletePat, that is completely true. The difference the Holy Spirit made in Peter is undeniable. One of the chief things the Holy Spirit does is point us to Jesus. When we feel weak He points us to Christ's strength. The Holy Spirit gives us great power by allowing us to harness the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The Holy Spirit does NOT magnify our strength rather He allows us to work in God's strength.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. The post is a gross simplification but a truth at the same time.