Father, thank You for enabling me to communicate Your Word. You have called me to proclaim it and I pray that You continue to use me to do so. I am just a conduit for You to use. May it always be so. Amen.

Mark 14:53-65 (<<click to read the passage)

Many of us like Peter because we can relate to him on so many levels. He was definitely an “open mouth insert foot” kind of guy. He liberally spit out whatever popped into his head. And though in many ways he was a coarse, rough-necked fisherman, he also had a sensitive heart. Not that long ago, when asked, he had identified Jesus as the Messiah. No one had told him that. The disciples had not been discussing it – no, the Father had revealed it to him! (Matthew 16:15-17)

In the very next section of Scripture, Peter does what he swears he would never do – he denies Jesus. But I want to stress what we find at this point in time in Scripture.

They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. vs53-54

When they arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, everyone scattered, and Peter was no exception. But the Gospels tell us that when Jesus was taken before the religious leadership to be placed on trial that another disciple who was “acquainted with the high priest…was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus” (this was probably John) and Peter – catch that – Peter was close behind. He couldn’t enter the high priest’s home but remained in the courtyard. (John 18:15)

Yes, Peter in a matter of minutes would do the unthinkable – he would deny that he even knew Jesus – but now he is as close to Jesus as he can get. I’m sure Jesus’ heart ached for Peter but I would think that He found some solace in Peter’s presence. He would fail but he was sure trying hard to be what he needed to be. He didn’t understand what all was going on but that didn’t stop him from doing what he could. It may have been broken but he gave what he could give.

I, for one, think that that is highly commendable. He had to have been scared. He was confused but he loved Jesus and gave as much of himself as he could. It was only when the questions got pointed that he caved in on himself.

Lord Jesus, we are all vulnerable to failure. And I am sorry to say that way too often I am more than vulnerable – I just plain fail. But as You knew Peter, You know me. You know I love You. You know that I truly desire to do everything I can. But we both know that, in and of myself, I will fail… Only in You can I be victorious. Only in You can I be what You have called me to be. Peter learned that lesson the hard way…and so have I. Thank You for Your long-suffering love…

Aug 18th, 2019, Sun, 5:48 pm