WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE WITH PETER?
Matthew 26:31-35 & 56
31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"
And so said all the disciples.
56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
When it comes to the events taking place the night that Jesus was arrested, Peter's denial stands out as a leading story. And yet we see that the other ten disciples did not do a stellar job either. So what was the difference with Peter?
Jesus told all His disciples that they would be made to stumble because of Him that night. The phrase, made to stumble, is better translated as caused to take offense. Jesus said all of His guys would be offended because of Him that night, not just Peter. And verse 56 tells us that when Jesus was arrested, all the disciples forsook Him and ran away. All the disciples, not just Peter.
In reading this story, we get no indication that any of the other disciples followed Jesus into the chief priest's house that night, with the exception of Peter and John. Judas was already out of the picture, but where were the other nine guys? Yes, Peter denied knowing the Lord three times. No way to excuse that behavior, but all the others abandoned Jesus. How much worse was Peter's denial? Why don't the other absent disciples catch more heat for leaving Jesus at one of His greatest moments of need?
A good place to look is at Peter's words. When Jesus said that all would be scattered, Peter refuted the Lord's words. It was not the first time Peter balked at what Jesus said. Peter had rebuked Jesus before, and now he was doing it again. Remember that Jesus never said anything that did not come to pass. So when He said all would be offended and scattered, they should have replied with, Oh Lord, we are sorry. But there was another element in Peter's words that made his situation different. Peter declared that he was better than the other ten disciples. He told Jesus that even if all these other guys would be offended, he, Peter, would never be offended. So, he rebuffed Jesus and exalted himself above the rest of the disciples. Peter's pride set him up for a big fall. Peter did not have to compare himself with the other ten guys. And Peter made his words definitive. He declared that he would never be offended. And he also declared that he would lay down his life for Jesus. And the others chimed in with the same words. But no one else compared himself with Peter.
Peter's pride put him in the spotlight. And Peter's pride led to his fall.
APPLICATION
Peter could have expressed himself differently. When Jesus said that Peter would be offended and deny identifying with Him, Peter could have responded with a plea for help. He could have said, Lord, what can I do? I don't want to deny You. I don't want to be offended at You.
To compare ourselves with others, putting them down, and exalting ourselves is full-blown pride. To refute God's Word and declare God wrong and us right is pride on a rampage. The ten disciples were scared and ran. And the Scriptures are merciful in not highlighting their fear. But Peter's pride put him in a much worse position. All of us have responded in fear, and we certainly don't feel good about that. But the Scriptures say that God resists the proud, not the fearful.
So, when we look at this story, our best position is to say, Lord, help me to not be offended because of You. And help me stand strong and not deny You. What we don't want to do is act like Peter and say, if I had been there, I would not have run away or denied the Lord. And while we are on this subject, the best position for us to take when others in the Body of Christ mess up, is to say, Lord, help me stand strong and deliver me from evil. By Your grace, Lord, I won't fall. Do not say, I would never do that! Don't wind up in the spotlight of pride like Peter.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for your mercy toward me. You have been faithful even when I have fallen short. Help me to stand strong and be courageous.