Far and NearSample

Jesus meets Peter in John 1 and gives him the name "Peter," which means "rock." To me, anybody named "rock" would imply that they’re stable, unshakable, and immovable. But here we are in Luke 22:54-62 watching Peter get asked three times by three different people if he was a follower of Jesus, and all three times he says NO! So much for being a "rock," right?

Imagine how Peter felt. Being named "rock" but not displaying any qualities that matched a rock. Being trusted as a disciple, but failing to do the simplest thing: acknowledging Jesus as His savior.

I am Peter, and Peter is me, and Peter is also probably you if you’re reading this. We fall short, just like Peter. Every single day, we shy away from talking about Jesus, or we ignore spending time with Him because we are just too tired to engage in all that spiritual stuff. 

We repeatedly deny Him in our lives. And yet here we see in John 21:15-17, Jesus, after the resurrection, re-commissioned Peter THREE times to cancel out the three times Peter fell short. Out of all of the disciples there, Jesus spoke to the one who needed reassurance the most.

What a friend and father we have in Jesus. He saw what you did, sees what you're doing, and still, He wants to single you out in a room full of people and tell you that He still has a mission for you. 

When Peter saw Jesus at the sea of Galilee after the resurrection, the bible says he was only 100 yards out at sea. Still, he jumped into the water and ran to Jesus while the other disciples stayed in the boat and waited for it to reach the shore. Now, is it so surprising to see that Peter was chosen as the rock for the church? Not to me.

PRAYER:

Lord, here I am, the modern-day Peter, broken, ashamed and disappointed at all the times I didn’t live up to the name you call me. But here I also am, your child, your disciple, and your friend, asking that you would forgive me for all the times I fell short and keep falling short of your calling on my life. I am ready for you to re-commission me. Send me, and I will go.