I'm not sure if you'll read this, Peter. I can imagine that you probably don't have much interest with what's going on down on earth when you've got the person of Jesus in your presence up there. It might be a very rare thing that you'd ever peer down here for any reason. If you did indeed watch what goes on down here, I imagine you might have more interest in a beautiful servant washing the sores of a very sick person in a hospital somewhere in India, rather than some music magazine editor in Texas.
Anyway, if you do pay attention to stuff like this, I've got an apology for you.
If often said things (both verbally and on this blog) to the effect of "Peter was an idiot," or described the 12 disciples as a bunch of bumbling idiots. In relation to my blog from yesterday, I recently watched part of The Passion Of The Christ, which zooms in on several details of the final hours of Jesus' time on earth before His crucifixion, including Peter's thrice denails. I know that I can't really stand aloof of the disciples and say, "Oh, I would've figured out what Jesus was talking about (when He kept refering to His pending arrest and death) or that I wouldn't deny knowing Jesus." One can't really brag about what they would or would not do until they've actually lived through such an event. Then, most know that bragging is not too appropriate or fulfilling anyway.
I can't really compare myself to Peter and judge him and his friends too harshly. They had to experience some traumatic hardship that I have yet to face. I hope to do great things with the help, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, so I don't necessarily revere Peter beyond reach. like I cannot attain goals near his impact; but I'd be amiss if I thought myself better or that I'd done anything as noble as leading the first church in Jerusalem through its formative years, and then died by an upside-down crucifixion.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at April 13, 2009 09:47 AM