Appointed To Bear Fruit: A 90 Day JourneySample

Willing to Die

Peter often felt like he knew better than everyone else including Jesus. He didn’t want to accept Jesus’ declaration that he could not go where Jesus was going, so he rebuked Jesus (Matt. 16:22-23) and tried to dictate what Jesus could or could not do (John 13:8). Now, Peter was stubbornly demanding that he be allowed to follow Jesus. His words are a window allowing us to peer into his heart. Someone who doesn’t want to listen to those who know more than they do is a person with a heart filled with self-conceit and pride. Peter still hasn’t realized that he needs to be quiet in the presence of Jesus. Humble people don’t comment before they understand the difficult words they are hearing. Peter certainly struggled with this, and so can we!

Peter did understand one thing: Jesus was talking about His upcoming death. Peter is also willing to die that night. In his mind, he probably wondered why he couldn’t die together with Jesus. But, Peter obviously didn’t understand the Lord’s plans. He didn’t know that Jesus would die for sinners, and that later Peter himself would die as a witness to the work of Christ. Peter only continues to think of himself. He was willing to die, but he wanted to die according to his plans. Many people make grand boasts using words of great courage. But, courage is not enough. We need to also have a sensitivity to discern what God is doing at every moment. Don’t, like Peter, think you are so important that you don’t need to listen to Jesus’ words any longer.

Being willing to die is a declaration that is easy to make, but hard to do. Jesus knew who wanted to sincerely follow Him and who was just pretending to follow Him (Luke 9:57-62). Jesus knew His true followers. He was fully aware that Judas would betray Him. And, He knew that Peter would deny Him three times. Due to his lack of humility, Peter had the wrong estimation of himself. 

Instead of denying himself, Peter denied Christ. He did this not only once, but three times! It’s so much harder to deny yourself than it is do deny others, because we are all so self-centered. If we find ourselves in a situation that is to our advantage, then we support what is happening. But if we find ourselves in a situation that is to our disadvantage, we quickly find ways to protect ourselves. In a few moments, Jesus would be captured and sent to stand trial. And Peter would be there too. In the courtyard, Peter surveyed the situation and realized there was no hope for freeing Jesus. Moments later, Peter was confronted by people who wanted to connect him with Jesus, but sadly Peter’s only concern was to protect himself. (He probably figured that it was already too late to help Jesus, so he should save himself.) Sadly, Peter concluded that it was better for him to deny Jesus than die together with Jesus.

In the end, Peter’s boastings of never denying Christ were empty. He vowed to die with Christ, but in the moment of decision he wasn’t willing to do so, because he wanted to follow Christ using his own power. That’s impossible. Only the Spirit’s supernatural power provides us with the strength to follow Christ in humility and self-denial. It’s only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can give a faithful testimony to Christ. That is why the disciples were not sent to proclaim the gospel before the Holy Spirit descended upon them. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, however, Peter was finally able to be a witness and lay down his life as a testimony of Christ to the world. 

Application:  Are you willing to lay down your life as a witness?