Of all the disciples, maybe, for Jesus, Peter ‘took the cake.’ Maybe it was Peter’s impetuous nature that caused Jesus to stifle a giggle most often (like parents who don’t want to be caught smiling after one of their children has done something naughty, but in the most disarming, most endearing, way). Their three years together were punctuated by episodes of Peter’s over-confident, blustering responses. Once, Peter actually forgot himself and rebuked Jesus! His was a fish-catching, wave-walking, booth-building, sword-wielding, friend-denying, Redeemer-restored, journey. And none of these character-revealing traits set him up for dismissal from ministry. That’s because Peter was on the journey God had planned for him. God’s Plan ‘A’ for Peter (with no Plan ‘B’).
Wouldn’t it be incredible to hear Peter tell his whole story? Especially after Jesus went back to the Father, leaving the disciples in the capable hands of the Holy Spirit. From Pentecost to Peter’s own crucifixion years later, his ongoing journey must have had some spectacular revelations of God’s love and provision! Some of that accomplished work, shown by what he became, is evidenced in Peter’s two writings in the New Testament.
In 1 Peter chapter 2, TPT, he urges believers to intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of the Word which causes growth to maturity (wouldn’t you love for him to have filled in a few personal details?). Then, he advises coming and being ‘living stones’ who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God (I can’t help rejoicing that he felt he belonged, too!). When he writes that Jesus’ preciousness is imparted to all believers, I wonder if he was overwhelmed with emotion. And what about calling us ‘God’s chosen treasure’? (he must have had some doubts to overcome to get him to that point!) Verse 10 ends with: “At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!” (Peter, out of all the others, knew that Mercy firsthand, from a post-breakfast talk on the beach). Lastly, I think an intensely personal confession: “. . . it is God’s will for [me] to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right” (was he thinking back to when he needed to have his own foolishness silenced?)
Peter’s two letters always grab me with their forthrightness, their almost blunt confession style. All diamonds are rough when first found and are in need of much polishing. His ‘need of polishing’ didn’t disqualify him. Ours won’t, either. It may have something to do with divine provision. More tomorrow, 10 AM, 4 PM. PD
