Have you ever met someone who was totally hardcore (super intense) about something? Maybe the sports fan who never misses a game and has a shrine set up in their basement? Maybe the gamer who spends so much time with a controller in his hand that he looks like a ghost and hisses when hit by sunlight?Well, Peter was hardcore.He was hardcore about Jesus.
In Matthew 24:34-35, when Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him, "Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I NEVER WILL!" Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." But Peter said, "Even if I have to DIE with you, I will NEVER say I don't know you".
It certainly seems that Peter meant those words, because just hours later when soldiers came to take Jesus away, he wielded a sword and cut the right ear off of somebody. He was ready to murder for Jesus! (Incidentally, Jesus, who tells us to love our enemies, actually rebuked Peter for doing so and even miraculously re-attached the ear).
1. PETER'S MOMENT OF FAILURE
While Peter talked a pretty good game, the sad part of his story is that he did exactly what Jesus said he would do. In Mark 14:66-72, after Jesus was arrested, Peter was asked three times if he knew Jesus, and he denied knowing him each of those times.When he heard the rooster crow, he realized that he had failed and wept.
Can you relate to Peter? Do you sometimes feel pressure to hide what you believe, to not talk about where you go on Fridays or Sundays? Do you say you love Jesus, when in reality, you keep your association with him on the down-low?
I really do think Peter missed a huge opportunity to answer the questions those people had. They might have heard stories about Jesus and wanted to know if what they had heard was true! He could have shared his experiences with Jesus and led them to believe in him too. Sadly, that didn't happen.
What we can learn from Peter's moment of failure is that following Jesus doesn't just mean saying or giving the appearance of following him, but REALLY doing it. Sure, you might get mocked and made fun of a bit for living different, but you also might have some amazing opportunities to introduce your friends to the God who loves them.
In Luke 9:26 Jesus says, "If you are ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you...". That verse makes me uncomfortable, but it also makes a lot of sense. If I were ashamed of my wife, slipping my wedding ring off my finger every time I was in public, and when people asked me if I were married, I denied it-- well, the relationship wouldn't last too long. How can we expect to have a relationship with God-- how can we expect him to take care of us and to help us, when we're afraid to admit to people that we know who he is?
2. PETER'S SECOND CHANCE
Even though Peter really messed up, Jesus gave him a brand new start. In fact, when Peter had a conversation with Jesus after he had risen from the dead, John 21 doesn't tell us that Jesus shamed him and told Peter to get lost. No, Jesus showed him love and gave him a new kick at the can. Jesus' words remind us that just saying you're a Christian and that you love God is meaningless. It's what you do with your life, it's in your everyday choices, that proves whether or not that's true.
After that moment with Jesus, Peter really was Mr. Hardcore. He wrote books of the Bible. He traveled around planting churches and telling people about his experiences with Jesus- speaking to thousands of people at a time. He was even tortured and killed because he believed in Jesus.
What we can learn from Peter's story is that even when we mess up big time, Jesus doesn't hate us or want nothing to do with us-- but he offers us forgiveness and a brand new start.
DISCUSSION:
Parents, here's a great opportunity for discussion with your teens.
If one of their friends (or even just an acquaintance) were to come up to them this week and ask them questions about their faith--
Why do you go to youth group or church?
Do you really believe in God? How do you know he's real?
How can you believe Jesus really died and rose again?
Why bother follow what the Bible says when you can have more fun doing what you want?
What is sin? Why would someone need to be forgiven?
--what would your teen say? Would they be able to share their story? Would they be able to explain why they're a Christian?
Take some time to help them think about and discuss some answers to those questions. The Bible says that we should be prepared to give answers to people who ask us about what we believe (1 Peter 3:15). A little preparation will help when the questions come.
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