Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Wednesday, 16 April 2014 "The storm broke—and Peter failed"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Wednesday, 16 April 2014 "The storm broke—and Peter failed"
Reflection Questions:
"Lord," Peter said, "I'm ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!" Ancient Christian tradition said Peter was crucified in Rome around 64 A.D., but when he spoke these words, he wasn't, in fact, "ready" for that. Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. Jesus was arrested, and when bystanders said he must have been with Jesus, Peter denied it three times. Then a rooster crowed, and Peter "went out and cried uncontrollably."
Of all the disciples, only Peter walked on water (Matthew 14:28-29). He was first to say flat out that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 8:27-29). He was no coward—just a human being under pressure. Has pressure ever led you to be ashamed of and to hide your allegiance to Jesus? Jesus told those who arrested him, "This is your time, when darkness rules." Was there anything Peter might have done to keep the darkness from seeping into his soul (cf. verse 46)?
In 24 Hours that Changed the World, Pastor Hamilton noted that all four gospels tell of Peter's shattering failure. Yet when the gospels were written, Peter was known as a great apostle, a prominent church leader. It seems likely that he himself told the story —that he had openly shared his failure, and the forgiveness and hope he'd found in its wake. When have you grown through a failure that you were able to embrace and learn from by God's grace?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, like Peter, I keep learning things about myself, finding a need to grow in areas I thought I had down cold. Thank you for your ongoing grace, for nudging me to grow even when I'm comfortable. Amen.
Insight from Rev. Steven Blair
Rev. Steven Blair is the Congregational Care pastor of Live Forward and Live Well Emotional Wellness Ministry. www.cor.org/liveforward
“Fail Like Peter”
Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Scripture - Luke 22:31 The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 32 but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”[a]
33 He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.”
35 He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse, and wallet, and shoes, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.”
36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’[b] For that which concerns me has an end.”
38 They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
39 He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40 When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47 While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you in the temple daily, you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
54 They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
57 He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59 After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned, and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” 62 He went out, and wept bitterly.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 22:32 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
b. Luke 22:37 Isaiah 53:12
If you have lived in any area of the United States for long, it becomes really easy to tell if someone is “not from around here.” Usually their accent, their choice to use certain words “Y’all,” or how they say a phrase like “Forget about it” is a clear giveaway.  The disciples and Jesus are in Jerusalem, but they are from the northern area of Galilee.  Someone notices it is a clear giveaway that Peter is a Galilean just like Jesus.   Peter is in trouble.
Being a follower of a rebel is dangerous.  So Peter denies knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had warned Peter.   After Jesus’ Resurrection, Jesus will meet Peter at a shoreline and restore him.   The Gospel writer of John would connect Peter’s denial with his restoration by utilizing a word for “charcoal fire” that only appears in the NT during Peter’s denial of Jesus and then again at the scene of his restoration (John 21).
But today’s Scripture and GPS is not about restoration.   It is about failure.
Peter failed.  The man who many consider the head disciple failed in being a disciple.   This is one of a select few stories that appear in all Four Gospels.   Each Gospel was written between 70 and 95AD, years after Peter was a legend as the rock upon which Jesus will build his church.  Each church that received a copy of the Gospels would have known the “Peter the Brave” and the “Peter the Foundation” version.  They would have been shocked by this Scripture showing Peter’s weakness.
How would anyone ever have learned about what happened in that dark area outside of Jesus’ prison that night?    Peter must have told them.  Peter must have told others about this specific failing for it to be picked up by all the Gospel writers.
Peter failed, then he told the story of his failure as the event where he found God’s forgiveness.
So, what do we do with this particular Scripture?
We fail like Peter.   When we fail, we tell others about it.
As a personal example, I fail as a disciple of Jesus.   I fail to always read Scripture primarily for my soul and instead tend to read it for how it applies to others’ souls.  I struggle loving people who remind me of certain high school friends.  I draw healthy boundaries, but sometimes what I perceive as a ‘healthy boundary’ was simply an excuse not to do something.  I fail, more than you might want a pastor to admit.  Reading this Scripture, I decided to fail like Peter and share it with you.
This week, I suggest you try failing like Peter too.  See if you have an easier time talking to someone about Faith if you begin with a specific example of a time when you failed.   Announce how you are in need of grace like everyone else and see how that changes the conversation.
You don’t have to be perfect to be a disciple of Jesus.
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