Threatened

Nobody likes to hear that they will screw up.

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples. - Matthew 26:26-35

Peter couldn't bear to hear that Jesus would lump him in with the others.

Of course, they will abandon him, but not Peter.  Peter is the loyal one, the faithful one, the one who tries the hardest to do as Jesus would expect.

Who doesn't like to think he or she is above the rest, the better student, the most dedicated, the most devoted?

If he really feels that way, how could he turn against Jesus just a few hours later?

It has to be fear that overtakes him and makes his go against his own wishes.

When we feel threatened, all bets are off.  We make snap decisions that may lead us where we would never choose to go under normal circumstances.

The thinking mind at dinner says "No Way, Jesus," but the irrational mind in the moment when threatened says something quite different.

I am sure we have all been there, blurting out something in the heat of the moment, or when under stress, that we wouldn't have said, or wanted to say under normal circumstances.

And like Peter, we may find that once we say it once, we are stuck with it.

So, what is the lesson for us?

Maybe it is simply to know our own nature.

Even though Peter denied Jesus, Jesus still loved him, and he will still love us, regardless of what we do or say.

That may be enough for us to know.

More to come...