Peter: Willing and Weak (Holy Week)

John 18:1-11 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:15-18 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

John 18:25-27 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Peter: Willing and Weak

Peter is an interesting person and should be very revealing to us. In one episode where Jesus is being betrayed and arrested Peter rises up with his sword in hand and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, as if he was going to heroically stop the unraveling of of this evil. This smacks of a small child sleeping with his nerf gun, thinking that he is prepared for a burglar who dares to enter on his watch. None the less, we see Peter is eager and willing to defend the honor of Christ. This is good.

This also makes the next episode so baffling. Jesus predicts it, too. Perhaps part of what it means to be the Savior of the world is the ability to see inside of man’s heart and understand him even better than their own selves can. In this case, Jesus clearly saw something in Peter that Peter failed to see for himself. As willing as Peter was to stand up for Christ, he seemed to get scared away by the junior high servant girl. I am sure Peter thought he was better than that...but Jesus knew. It almost seems hard to believe, perhaps we can make some sense out of it when we consider that in one instance, Peter would appear brave in the company that he was in. Being alone in the courtyard, standing up for Jesus proved to be too much. Peter couldn’t even admit that he was one of his disciples.

Peter learned something about himself through this episode that was crushing to him. We have something to learn about ourselves as well. As much as Peter had willingness to serve Christ he was weak on his own two feet. As for Jesus, he managed alright on his own but Peter fared far worse. We can say that Peter needs Jesus to serve him instead of Jesus needing Peter to serve him. One is the Savior and one isn’t, I think it is clear which one is which.

As we think about our own propensity to Peter-like zeal it is important we don’t fall into the trap of legalism that this lesson would steer us clear away from. For instance, we shouldn’t reduce the Christian life to our noteworthy commitment to Christ, as if he were dependent upon our commitment to him or his kingdom. The story of King David comes to mind, especially as it relates to children (“king David was bold and fearless, you should be too”). Let’s not forget that your child is not king David who was anointed by the Spirit of God to save the Israelites. In this way, the call to be just like David is legalistic and crushing. Peter’s sword debacle honestly feels like a teenager who just got done with a hyped up summer camp that featured a high energy youth pastor with no kids and spiked hair, working his students into a frenzy of radical, bold, audacious, crazy, sold-out, fearless and did I say radical commitment to Christ? Peter was the guy who just got home from the third world on a short-term missions trip and refuses to stop at a fast food restaurant with his parents because that money could be better used to fund global missions and hungry people.

Peter is willing, but he is definitely weak. He is on fire, but the fire doesn't find it's source inside of him. He definitely wants to serve Jesus, which is good, but he has not reached the maturity to realize that he himself was in greater need of service from Jesus than Jesus was from Peter. In fact, Jesus had zero need from Peter while Peter wouldn’t have the air to breath if not for Jesus holding it together for him (Colossians 1:15-17).

As we think about Holy Week we are reminded of our greatest weakness and our greatest need. Peter realized something more profound than his inability to serve Jesus and remain faithful to him. Luke 22:62 tells us Peter went out and wept bitterly. This is not because he failed Jesus as much as it was his rejection of the living God and his realization of how deeply sin had corrupted his heart. Thankfully, there was help on the way. The very Savior that Peter rejected was on his way to the cross to die for him and all others like him. Isn’t it ironic that it was Peter tried to stop Jesus from doing this (Matthew 16:22-23)? What if Peter had succeeded and had his own way? He would have impeded the very salvation his bitter weeping proved he needed.

Oh thank you, Lord, that you are not faithless like your people are. Thank you that you serve us before you call us to serve you. Thank you that your commitment to us is a commitment to us even despite our sin and rebellion to you. May your love sink deeper than our sin. May your love secure us more profoundly than we could imagine. Thank you for the cross.