Easter responses: Peter

Peter is a disciple that many people find it easy to identify with.  Certainly that's something I feel.  Perhaps it's because he often doesn't get things right.  One moment he's being told he is the rock on which the church will be built, the next he's being told 'get behind me, Satan!'  He promises that he won't abandon Jesus, but before morning he's already denied his Lord three times.  Like I said yesterday, it's all too easy to condemn the disciples without knowing how we would react to if we were in danger because of our faith.  And Peter's story is one that can give us hope. 

Peter's impulsiveness led him to be the first to make connections and declarations of loyalty, but it also got him into trouble.  He fails Jesus on the night before his crucifixion, despite his earlier confidence in himself.  He starts off well, daring to follow Jesus to the high priest's house, but once people notice him and start asking questions that could lead to his being arrested too he falls to pieces. (John 18, v15-18 and 25-27.)  Matthew tells us that Peter "wept bitterly" when he realised what he'd done.  I know there have been times when I've said or done something that denies Jesus' lordship of my life, and sometimes I've realised afterwards and deeply regretted it. 

And yet Jesus forgives Peter and reassures him that he is still part of his plan.  In John 21 we have a description of an encounter where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, mirroring the three times Peter betrayed him.  And each time Jesus gives him a commission to care for his 'flock,' for the church.  And he hints at how Peter will serve him in the future.  Peter, who had denied Jesus to save his own skin, would eventually be executed for continuing to spread the good news of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

This encounter follows on from yet another miracle, (as if Jesus' appearance wasn't miracle enough!) that is reminiscent of one Jesus performed when he first called Peter.  Perhaps it hints at a new beginning and a reminder of that first call to become 'fishers of men;' at how far the disciples have come and yet how far they still have to go.  Perhaps it hints that from now on they must rely on God to provide for them, and at the presence of the Holy Spirit who will soon come to them and strengthen them.  It is because they have the Spirit helping them that the disciples are able to achieve all that is done in spreading the gospel, and through the Spirit's help that many of them, including Peter, are able to stand firm in their faith and by martyred.  His self-confidence had failed him- he knew now that he needed God's help.

It's through the Holy Spirit's help that even the most timid of us (and that's me!) can dare to serve Jesus, can dare to take risks to spread his good news.  Risks in giving our money to charity or the church, risks in inviting friends to come to church or in talking to them about our faith, risks in practical service.  In some parts of the world Christians still risk their lives just by believing.  In this country we might be risking our reputation- our friends may think we're weird religious freaks, even that we're dangerous.  But after what Jesus did for us, shouldn't we try to take those risks?  But the best thing is to know that when we fail, he will, like with Peter, help us get up and start again.