Follow, but until the end? | Peter

Bible: John 1:41-43

How differently life can turn out than we expected. How our hopes can be shattered. How disappointed we can be in something or someone. And what do we do then? How do we respond? Often, what lives deep inside us comes to the surface.

PETER TELLS HIS STORY HONESTLY HERE. 

He is still young, a fisherman by trade, enthusiastic, and he knows how to get things done. Together with his brother Andrew, he is fishing. Suddenly, Jesus stands beside them.  

'Follow Me, and I will make you a fisher of men,' Jesus says to Peter. That means: leave your fishing profession, let your life be led by Me, and I will teach you a new calling. Peter does what Jesus says. He has come to love Jesus and wants to belong to Him. At first, Peter believes that Jesus has come to deliver them from the Roman occupiers and that a kingdom of peace will come to earth. A new period begins in Peter's life. He becomes a follower, a disciple of Jesus. But what will happen next? 

PETER RECEIVES MUCH TEACHING. 

Regularly, Jesus takes Peter and other followers up a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There, they hear about the Kingdom of God. One of Jesus' most famous speeches is called the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). People worldwide have marveled at its content. Many lives have been changed for the better because of it. Especially because He spoke about justice and righteousness, about blessedness (true happiness), and sincerity. Even then, people were impressed by Jesus' words. He spoke so differently from the religious and political leaders of that time. He spoke with authority, but at the same time, He showed that He did not come to be served, but to serve. He did not come for Himself, but wanted to be there for others. He was deeply moved by the sick, the poor, the crippled, and the blind. Jesus not only spoke about blessedness and righteousness, but also demonstrated it. Also in Peter's life.  

PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW IS SICK. 

One day, Jesus goes home with Peter. There lies Peter's mother-in-law. Seriously ill. She has a high fever. What tension and uncertainty. Will she live? Will she die? Questions that are familiar. Jesus touches her. At that very moment, the fever disappears. Wherever Jesus comes, evil and the consequences of evil must give way. For it is said of Him: He has taken our infirmities upon Himself and carried our sorrows. And Jesus heals many sick people in that time. Everywhere He goes, He performs mighty signs and wonders. 'For the LORD opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up those who are bowed down. The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers. He upholds the orphan and the widow. But He turns the way of the wicked upside down. And the LORD will reign forever.' (Psalms 146:8-10).  

And Jesus shows who God is. He knows, for He is the Son of God. And whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father (God). Through Jesus, Peter learns more and more who God is. And God is totally different than he thought. He learns this especially in the storms of life, also called crises. Moments when everything shakes and hope in life fades.  

PETER IN THE STORM. 

'Let us go to the other side of the lake,' Jesus said one day. The disciples needed no further explanation, they followed! Most of them, Peter in any case, were at home on the water. Suddenly, a literal storm arises. And not a small one. Within moments, the ship threatens to sink or break apart on the waves. Peter is afraid. He stares death in the face. No more pride or bold stories. He cries out! And Jesus, where is He? He is sleeping, at the front of the ship. The disciples wake Him: 'Save us, we are perishing!'. 

In the midst of the storm, Jesus looks at them: 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?'.  

Then Jesus stands up and rebukes the wind and the sea. Immediately it becomes calm. Breathlessly calm.  

Peter and the others exclaim in amazement: 'Who is this Jesus, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?' 

PETER ANSWERS. 

A while later, Jesus asks His disciples: 'Who do people say that I am?' Opinions among the people were divided. Some said He was a prophet, others said He was Elijah, the great prophet from earlier times. Even today, people have different opinions about Jesus. Some use His name as a byword, as a curse. Others say He was a good Man, an example for us. Some go further and say He is a great prophet.  

'But you,' Jesus then says, 'Who do you say that I am?' Peter answers immediately: 'You are Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.'  

'Blessed (truly happy) are you, Simon, son of Jonah (another name for Peter), for these words did not come from yourself, but from My Father (God) who is in heaven.' Those are words of praise.   

But Jesus has hardly said this before He begins to tell something that Peter does not understand at all.  

'The time is drawing near when I will be taken prisoner and will suffer and die.' They had not expected this. Jesus, the Son of God, to suffer and die? They had thought He would drive the enemies out of the land and reign as King forever on earth, establishing a kingdom of peace that everyone longs for. Peter does not accept this. 'This will not happen!' With this fighting spirit, Jesus should be pleased with Peter. But no.  

PETER IS WARNED. 

'Get behind Me, Satan! For what you are saying is not from God, but from men. You are trying to block the Way I must go.' What is Jesus saying now? Jesus makes it clear that this way, the way of suffering and dying, is the will of God. And that Peter must not, but also cannot, stop the will of God. For Jesus must suffer and die, otherwise there will never be deliverance and forgiveness. Then there will never be true peace, for then Satan—the great troublemaker and destroyer—will remain in power and the door to God will remain closed forever.  

Much later, Peter receives another warning, at the moment when Peter says: even if everyone leaves You, I will never leave You. But then Jesus says: 'Peter, before the rooster crows, you will have denied Me three times.' And that is what happened.   

PETER FALLS. 

It did not take long. Jesus was indeed taken prisoner. He had the power to free Himself, but did not do so. Out of love for His followers. 'Who gave Himself as a ransom for all.' (1 Timothy 2:6a). Peter follows Jesus! He wants to know where the enemies are taking the captured Jesus and what will happen to Him. He gains access to the place where Jesus is being questioned, but is soon discovered. Three times he is asked: 'You are also one of Jesus' followers, aren't you?' Peter is afraid. He does not want to be taken prisoner. He does not want to die. So he answers, even swears: 'I do not know Him. I do not belong to Him.' And when he has said this for the third time, the rooster begins to crow. At the same time, Jesus turns and looks at Peter with eyes full of love. Deeply saddened, Peter goes outside. All his pride and arrogance is broken in that one moment. What now? Would Jesus still care for him? He has disappointed Him so deeply.  

PETER IS SOUGHT OUT. 

Jesus shows that His love, the love of God, is unconditional. For after Jesus is killed on the cross and has lain in the grave for three days, He rises as the Victor. And what does He do then? He seeks out Peter. He shows: Peter, I have loved you even before you were born and I will always love you. The punishment that brings you peace has come upon Me, and by My wounds you have been healed. And this Jesus still lives!