A Story of Swords and Sifting Times

As Easter approaches, I’ve been thinking about all that Jesus endured in those final days before the cross.

In all four gospel accounts, the significance of this final week is evidenced by the number of chapters that each witness filled to try to convey all that transpired. Have you ever noticed the sheer length of material God’s given us on this one short week in all of human history? I was surprised when I counted the chapters and found these ratios:

Matthew from his triumphal entry through the Passover week:   7 chapters out of 28 (1/4^th)

Mark:  6 chapters out of 16 (more than 1/3^rd of the shortest gospel)

Luke:  5 chapters out of 24 (1/5^th)

John:  9 chapters out of 21 (incredibly, nearly ½ of this gospel takes place in the final week!)

Mel Gibson’s film, a tremendous gift to the world, helped amplify the incredible power of God’s love as demonstrated in the Passion of Christ. I’ve heard big burly men confess that they could never sit through it a second time. You feel as though you are in the front row at the crucifixion. I kept thinking, “Oh Lord my God, you endured all this FOR ME?”

With each passing year and every time I read or tell it, the story takes on deeper relevance and a greater impact on my own soul. And this week, I’ve been thinking about a slice of the story that has rarely taken center stage in my mind. It is the perspective and role of one of his closest friends, our brother Peter.

I’ve always admired this rough and ruddy fisherman in his approach to life. A natural leader, he was usually the first one to speak his mind and move his feet.  He was the only one who was willing to get out of the boat and walk on the waves because he was the kind of guy who wanted to experience as much as he could with Christ. He was also quick to take things into his own hands.

As far as we know about the night of Jesus’s arrest, Peter is the only one who valiantly tried to defend the One he loved. Perhaps we’ve misunderstood this brave act and misjudged his heart for drawing a sword and going after one of the Roman soldiers.

I heard one preacher say with a chuckle, “Well, Peter was a fisherman—not a soldier—so he only caught him in the ear.” But I believe Peter was fit and strong and could have easily struck the man’s neck… if his heart was in it.

In my point of view, the fact that he missed demonstrates an inner conflict. He couldn’t aim straight for a man’s throat because killing wasn’t his true desire.  It was only a show of force meant to deflect opposition. Besides, with Jesus standing right there and with so much at stake, what was He going to do to show his power?

Peter’s inner struggles didn’t start or end in that garden.  The Lord had just challenged him at dinner that same evening asking, “Will you really die for me? Peter, before morning you’re going to deny me three times!” And after the Lord was bound and led away to his trials, Peter wept bitter tears of remorse.

Peter reminds me that though we desire to serve Jesus fearlessly, we have moments of great confusion and despair. Though we want to follow, we are apt to deny and fail Him. Though we sometimes step out of the boat and experiences mountain top visions of God’s glory, we also fall into temptation and struggle to understand God’s plans. In the clash of a few unexpected seconds, we reach for the sword of our own strength and sometimes strike out and hurt the people we want to bless.

Despite all the pain of betrayal, the hurt of abandonment, and the suffering in his own flesh, Jesus loved Peter, Judas, even his murderers to the bitter end. And I thank God that in the midst of his own anguish, Jesus made a point of encouraging Peter before it even came to pass. The very night of his betrayal and arrest, knowing everything he was about to suffer in his own body, Jesus said, “Peter, Satan asked to sift you like wheat, but I’ve prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And after you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31)

See how selflessly Jesus loved us all! As he prepared to face the scourging and the beatings of his executioners, Jesus was praying for Peter and his brothers, and he thought about you and me.

Despite all our testing and trials, we have a high priest who has gone before us—One who continues interceding before the throne of the Father.  He sacrificed his own body on the cross, once for all humanity, and rose to reign forever, encouraging us to persevere in faith until the day of his next appearing.  
(Hebrews 7:11-10:38)

So, in the spirit of Peter our brother, I want to spur you on in your faith and love, and all the more as we see the Day approaching.  For He who is coming will not delay much longer. Are you struggling? Do you wrestle with God? Hang on! In a very little while we will receive what he promised in all its fullness.

HAPPY EASTER!  He is risen indeed!