Saints: Enjoying Jesus While Disillusioned With ReligionНамуна

Risking Your Reputation to Identify with Jesus

Although our society is growing more disconnected, more autonomous, and more focused on individualism, many still judge others based on the people — and the number of people — liking their social media posts. In that regard, little has changed over time. The ways we measure status changes, but we always find ways to evaluate others based on their friends and contacts.

Somewhat similarly, when Jesus walked on earth, value was based on association. The rabbi you followed, the family you came from, the place where you lived — all prescribed a cultural location you’d be hard-pressed to change.

That’s why following Jesus impacted a person’s standing in the community. Following Jesus meant separating from all the people groups that already existed, the place culture had carved out for a man or woman. Jesus was creating and inviting people into a new family, a new identity group.

But still, living fully into that new identity can be hard, even for us today. Association with Jesus isn’t easy when social pressures start to close in. For Peter—one of the twelve disciples whose mother-in-law was healed by Jesus and who walked on the water in Jesus’ power—social pressure turned out to be kryptonite. When his reputation was on the line, Peter denied association with Jesus.

Peter is an archetype for any Christian who has faith in Christ but also struggles with a gravitational pull toward playing it safe and saving face. If we’re brave enough to look at ourselves in the mirror, Peter’s story might sting a little. As I researched these passages, I resonated so deeply with Peter’s shortcomings that I face-palmed several times.

If you feel similarly, take heart. God isn’t done with us. God redeems Peter’s story, and he can redeem each of ours. Peter’s storyline doesn’t end with his denial of Christ. Instead, God’s pursuit of Peter highlights the unyielding nature of God’s power to restore. Peter’s storyline doesn’t finish with his ministry flakiness. The Word of God writes him a different ending: an identity as a rock-solid foundation to the early church.

In John 18, we see Peter deny Jesus three times. In John 21, we see Jesus ask Peter three times if he loves him — a sacred echo. Jesus saw Peter fully, the tangled web of fear and failure and longing to love. Jesus never stopped loving Peter, and Peter never stopped loving Jesus. As revolutionary as it may be, Peter’s storyline does not end with a lifetime of shame and failure to launch. Redemption is the storyline.

While Peter denied Jesus in order to save face socially, Jesus takes care to restore Peter’s deepest relationships by having the “do you love me?” conversation in front the other disciples. In doing so, he reunites Peter with his brothers in faith. It doesn’t surprise me that later in Peter’s story, John is often right beside him, leading the church against opposition. Together, they knew the power of redemption.

Prayer: Dear God, I do not always feel courageous enough to identify with you. Help me to recognize that my relationship with your Son is the purest, most meaningful connection I could ever have, and to dwell in your loyal love for all my days. Amen.