Across the Pastor’s Desk: Once, twice and three times…
Published 12:06 am Friday, April 7, 2017
Across the Pastor’s Desk by Cherie Daniel
When I get to heaven, I want to meet with several people. You probably have a list, too, of family and friends, and of Biblical heroes (and shady characters!) who you want to meet face-to-face. If you don’t already have such a list, I suggest you start working on one. You’re going to be there a long time with nothing to do unless you start making appointments now!
Since we are in the season of Lent and soon Easter, there are many names that have jumped to the top of my list: the Marys, Pontius Pilate, Joseph of Arimethea, etc. The disciples all had their unique charms, and the family of Lazarus, Mary and Martha have piqued my interest.
I also want to meet some of the unnamed people in our history: the boy with the loaves and fishes, the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was cured from her 12-year illness and the owner of the colt Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What are their stories? How were their lives changed by their encounters with the faithful followers of a mighty God? What can I learn from them?
But, at the very top of my list is Peter. He is so interesting — always trying so hard to get everything right, and somehow coming up short. He just keeps missing the point. Oh, he tries!
Remember when the disciples were out in the boat, and the wind had pushed them far away from the shore and Jesus had stayed behind to pray by himself? (Matthew 14) Jesus wanted to rejoin his students, so he walked on the water to the boat! The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus told them to not be afraid.
Verses 28-31 tells us that Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. Then, he let his knowledge of science — strong winds, bodies being denser than water, all that — distract him and he began to sink. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and saved Peter.
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Oh, Peter. At least you tried!
Well, I digress. I titled this piece “Once, Twice, Three Times…” so let’s get on with the threes.
Remember when Jesus and his disciples went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray? Jesus asked Peter, James and John to stay awake with him. They agreed, and Jesus went off a little way to pray alone. This story is found in Matthew 26. Three times Jesus received their promise to stay awake. Three times he returned to find them sleeping.
He said directly to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Peter tried, then, but again he got scared. The soldiers and the chief priests and the elders all appeared in the garden, and they arrested Jesus and they took him away.
Peter followed at a safe distance. Peter stayed outside the courtyard of the high priest. He encountered a servant-girl who was sure she recognized him as one of Jesus’ followers. Peter denied it. Then, another servant-girl on the porch told the other bystanders who Peter was. Peter denied it again, with an oath. A third time, one of the bystanders recognized Peter and said that it was the vocal accent that betrayed him as a follower of Jesus. Peter not only denied knowing Jesus, he began to curse and swore an oath!
At that moment the cock crowed.
Peter remembered then what Jesus had said at supper just a few hours before. Peter denied it, of course, but Jesus told him that he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed the very next morning. And when he remembered this conversation, and recognized his own failure, Matthew 26:75 tells us that Peter went out and wept bitterly. He was just trying to protect himself by remaining anonymous in the crowds, but his plan backfired. Peter knew his mistakes. He regretted them. And somehow, he knew that Jesus knew, as well. What anguish he must have felt.
This is a sad, sad story. We could end it here, but this will soon be the season of Easter, of new life! We can’t stop here! Let’s skip ahead to John, Chapter 21.
After his resurrection, Jesus has appeared to the disciples and encouraged them in their fishing. He prepared a meal for them on the shore, sharing bread and fish. Jesus spoke directly to Peter.
Three times he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times, becoming more hurt each time, Peter responded that he did, indeed, love Jesus. And three times, Jesus charged him with responsibility for the ministry to the people.
“Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.
“Once, twice, three times.”
What joy Peter must have felt! I hope so, anyway. I hope he recognized that the three times he fell asleep and the three times he denied Jesus were forgiven in this assignment of responsibility. Peter, the rock, the fumbler, the not-quite-right guy has become the foundation of the church. If he is like most people who have been given another chance, he must have jumped into this ministry with both feet, an avid follower, an eager leader, a zealous defender of the faith. Hallelujah! Peter, I can’t wait to meet you!
Cherie Daniel is pastor of Peace United Church of Christ and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ of Minnesota Lake.