Me and Pete

Simon Peter, one of Jesus' disciples said two things in the book of John that I absolutely love. Partly because they express my heart so perfectly with regards to God but also because, like Peter, I'm weak and prideful and flawed, so I can relate!

First, a little background. Knowing it was time for him to leave the world and go back to His Father, Jesus used his Last Supper with his disciples to lovingly prepare them for "the end." After speaking about many things to come, he poured water into a bowl and began to wash their feet one by one. Now, as told in scripture, here's my first favorite "Peter story." 

John 13:6-9 Jesus came to Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.” Peter said, “No, you will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, you are not one of my people.” Peter answered, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but wash my hands and my head, too!”

The second "Peter story"  happens after some "hard to understand" teaching by Jesus.

When the followers of Jesus heard this, many of them said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it? [Jesus said] Does this teaching bother you? The words I told you are spirit, and they give life. But some of you don’t believe. At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, Are you going too? Peter replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life, and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God" (John 6:60-68, part).

Earnest, impassioned, whole-hearted Peter. Not only was he deeply devoted to Jesus but he wrote two New Testament epistles and was crucified upside down under Nero's reign (according to church tradition). Contrast that Peter with doubting, cowardly, complaining Peter. Foolish and often arrogant, he "feel asleep at the wheel" when Jesus needed him the most in the garden of Gethsemane, he took his eyes off Jesus after being called by Jesus to walk toward him on the water and finally, declaring in the upper room his steadfast, unwavering "even to the point of death" love for Jesus, Peter denied even knowing him three separate times just shortly after.

Wow...can I relate to Peter: Loving and wanting to serve Jesus with all my heart yet sinning against his holiness repeatedly! Thankfully, I know another thing Peter said: Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18).