Thursday, March 8, 2012
John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given me?"
JESUS SUFFERS SUBMISSIVELY
Why did Peter think he had to step up and save Jesus?
Peter had a deep and sincere love for Jesus. That very night Peter had sworn that he would lay down his life for Jesus. Now Jesus appeared to be in trouble. His enemies were coming. So Peter put his money where his mouth was, so to speak. He showed that he truly was ready to lay down his life for Jesus. He was ready to take on the whole detachment of soldiers to defend Jesus.
Peter's love was great, his bravery was commendable, but his actions were completely wrong. Why? It was the same problem Peter had several months before when Jesus first foretold, in plain simple words, that He was going to be taken by the Priests and Pharisees and beaten and put to death. Peter rebuked Jesus and said, "Far be it from You Lord, this shall never happen to You." As Jesus said, Peter was acting as Satan's agent against Jesus even though he thought he was showing his confidence in Jesus as the Son of God. At that time, Jesus told him and us why he was so misguided. "You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23).
In other words, Peter was following his own heart. He was doing what he thought would be best rather than listening to God and accepting and following His will.
The world suggests that following your heart is the surest way to make the right decision that will be good in your life. Do what feels right to you. Like Peter, following our own heart will always lead away from Jesus unless our heart is guided by Jesus. Rather than doing what feels right to ourselves, let us always listen to Jesus. Let Him guide and direct us. Let us follow the cross of Christ by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses and following Jesus alone. That's what makes for right decisions -- and actions to match.
