Hosanna Restoration Church

As I read the 18th chapter of the Gospel of John, I keep finding so many personal lessons. Like betrayal can come from those closest to you, or the fact that Jesus knew what was in store and still went. I believe God will tell us what is coming if we ask. Jesus accepted the cup He was given to drink. I don’t want this kind of cup, but I am becoming convinced that if it were God’s plan for me to have that kind of cup, He would tell me. So if bad things are taking place, and God is not telling me it is His plan, I am going to go after the one who came to steal, kill, and destroy.

What caught my spirit most recently was Peter standing out side. At this point, Peter, who had cut off a mans ear for trying to take Jesus, just wanted to follow along. He was content to peer in from the outside. He apparently was not all that interested in getting inside. John had to go and make arrangements and then probably talk Peter into coming in. Do you ever wonder what John might have been thinking or saying to Peter? Like, “what is the matter with you man? Where did all your boldness go?” Or, what do you suppose John thought when Peter denied being a follower of Jesus? Did he say anything or not?

Well, back to Peter. What does this have to do with us? There was something about the idea of following along but staying outside that struck a Chord with me. It seems there are those who kind of want to follow along to see what is going to happen with Jesus, but they never really want to step up or take a stand. It is like people who want the good things God can and will do, but they would rather He brought the things outside to where they choose to stand.

Next Peter is standing by a fire warming himself. He takes advantage of the opportunity to gain comfort from the fire people have built as they wait to see what is going to happen. But still, when asked, he denies the Lord. Lot’s of people want the benefits of Christianity for free. Some people let everyone else give. They let them pay the bills, send the missionaries, help the poor, and do the works of the gospel, and yet they want the equal blessing of the others who do what God calls for.

In the end, it took Peter three strikes before he realized the truth of what he was doing. It took three strikes being outside, before he realized that he had to be inside no matter what the cost. The rooster crowed, and he woke up to what he was doing. The question to me and all of us is, where are we? Prayerfully we are standing solid inside, going on with God as strong as we can. The sad truth may be that some are on strike two, or maybe strike 50 for all I know. The hope is that where ever we are, we make a covenant to move in. We will refuse to just follow along to see what is going to happen next. Rather we will put all our trust in the Lord, and follow where He leads. How strange that must have looked to see big, bold Peter, cowering outside the gate. Don’t make anyone drag you forward. Run right to the front.