For the next two days join me as we track with Peter. His actions, his words, his motives.

Scene 1: The Passover Meal

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[c]

32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. - Matthew 26:31-35

Peter is adamant that he will never lose his devotion, even if all the others do. 

I sense in his statements a determination to prove himself, to remind Jesus that he’s dependable, that he is the one who perseveres, that he is not weak.

He is overly confident in himself. 

It’s like when I tell one of my girls to wear a jacket to the bus stop, and they are adamant that they won’t be cold. They refuse to trust that I know what I’m talking about, and they insist that their threshold for chilly weather is higher than I think it is.

Jesus knows Peter’s limitations, but Peter doesn’t believe him. He is too blinded by his need to defend himself and be seen a certain way. 

—-

Scene 2: The Garden - Later That Night 

Jesus went to the garden and then brought Peter, James and John further on to be with him, to stay up with him, to pray for Him, while he went even further to be alone with his father. He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (26:38). 

Then he went on to pray and ask God if there’s another way. “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (26:39). 

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (26:40-41).

This happened two more times. A total of three times Jesus found his boys sleeping. 

Even Peter, the one who swore up and down that if the others fall way, he won’t. 

Already, just hours after professing his devotion, he is failing to do what Jesus has asked. 

I have to wonder what was going through his head at this point. Was he aware of how weak he was appearing? Did he remember his boastful promise to Jesus at dinner? 

My guess is - and this is only a guess - he was already feeling ashamed of his weakness. Peter was a go-getter, a take-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of guy. He wanted to be seen by Jesus as reliable, a true soldier, the last man standing. 

And now he can’t even stay awake. 

—

Scene 3: Garden - Moments Later 

After Jesus woke them up a third time, the band of temple soldiers came to arrest Jesus, being led by Judas. 

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear (Matthew 26:50-51).

Although Matthew didn’t feel the need to point out that it was Peter who grabbed a sword, John’s gospel identified him.

So let’s recap what has happened so far this evening: 

• Peter was told by Jesus that he would deny knowing him. 

• Peter asserted that would never happen. 

• Then Peter couldn't stay awake in the garden in Jesus’ hour of need.

• And now, seeing the soldiers come, Peter goes into fight or flight mode and reacts by taking his sword and trying to make war. 

I’m speculating again, but I wonder if Peter was now trying to make up for the fact that he fell asleep. I wonder if he thinks he is now proving his devotion by fighting; sort of like, “I may have fallen asleep a few times, but I am NOT going to sleep through this!” Just a guess. 

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (26:52-54). 

Jesus rebukes Peter and reminds him that something bigger is going on. Peter is missing it. There is a larger story unfolding, one hinted at in the Scriptures of old. By trying to fight against Jesus' enemies, Peter was really fighting against God’s eternal plan of salvation. 

And so lastly, I wonder if Peter would have reached for the sword if he had been able to stay awake and pray.

In other words, if he had been more spiritually alert, maybe he would have been able to see what was really happening and would have followed Jesus’ lead instead of trying to be the hero. 

Some take-away’s: 

• Peter was over-confident in his devotion to Jesus. Instead of humbling himself when Jesus warned him at the Passover meal, he puffed out his chest and asserted himself even more. What about you? Do you too often find yourself finding your identity not in what Jesus has done for you, but in how much more committed to him you are than others? Do you find yourself thinking, “I’m not like those pansies out there! I’m not like those apathetic pew-warmers!” Pride is destructive - even when it’s hiding behind a devotion to Jesus. 

• Peter did not see the urgency in prayer. Prayer was, perhaps, what it too often is for you & I: something we do when we have the time and it’s convenient. Jesus was asking Peter to fight for him in the spiritual realm through prayer, but Peter just didn't see the value in that. 

• When threatened by the band of soldiers, Peter reacted out of his flesh, instead of looking at Jesus to follow His lead. Peter wanted to be Jesus’ savior instead of Jeus’s follower. Yikes. Does that hit home for you at all? “I’ll get ‘em Jesus! I’ll fix this! I’ll be your soldier, your warrior, your fullback, your point guard, your MVP! I’ll charge the enemy lines, I’ll take that hill!” Instead of pausing, fixing our eyes on Jesus, and asking, “What are you doing in this confusing situation? Is there more going on than what I can see? How can I partner with what you’re doing? Protect me from running ahead of you.”  

To be continued tomorrow....