Peter, you know, the impetuous disciple who, with such hubris, swore up and down he would never betray Jesus, only to do so—thrice—in one night? You, know, the one who (again, with no small amount of hubris) jumped out of the boat toward Jesus, only to freak out and sink?
Peter, gotta love him. He’s every man.
‘I got this, Lord…’ and he slices off the ear of a Roman soldier…only to be reprimanded by the Lord for it.
‘No, you’re talking nonsense, Jesus, you’ll not die…’ only to be called down as if Satan himself channeled through his voice, tempting Jesus not to lay his life down for us all.
Peter, the impetuous, numb-skullish, foibling follower who kept after Jesus even when Jesus called him a little stone. A pebble in my shoe. The one that somehow grew into the rock on which Jesus built his church.
Yep, that Peter. Every man. Human. Eventually, he got it.
Take, for example, this excerpt he (much) later wrote. It became the first chapter in “his” book in the Bible:
“Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, To those [elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen [Heb 13:14] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God]. [John 14:27]
Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Matt 28:1-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6; John 20:1-18] [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation], seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow. It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.
So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.” [Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2]
If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. [Lev 22:20] For He was foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you. [Is 40:6-8]”
1 Peter 1:1-25 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1pe.1.1-25.AMP
If you’re still with me after that long “chapter,” wow, I’m impressed. Thank you, dedicated reader. Stay with me. There’s more!
So, that Peter, apparently after Paul (you know, the former religious murderer of Christians who repented and became Christian) rebuked him for not fully accepting Gentiles (and, yes, he needed to be rebuked again, even though he’d already been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit),
Well, as I was saying, AFTER that, he finally got it! He got it so well that he fully encompassed the truth of the entire existence and purpose of man in the introductory chapter of I Peter!
Yes, that’s the “it” I meant.
He fully encompassed the truth
of the entire existence and purpose of man!
Because who among us doesn’t wonder what this life is all about?
Who doesn’t wonder why we’re here?
And why God hasn’t done something about the awful atrocities in this world?
Take this chapter. Break it down. It’s pure gold!
Now tell me—which part(s) stand out as you read it? Which burn like fire? Which answer your questions? Which infuse you with a surge of energy, purpose, determination? What purpose do you glean from this passage?
I know, I didn’t spell it out for you. I just pointed. You’re invited to dig in and share with me in the crazy, amazing nuggets it offers.
Since even the little hard-head, Peter, got it, we can, too, don’tcha think?
Comments open below, questions also welcome!
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Joan T. Warren 