Peter, All in for Jesus – Jesus, All In for Peter

Text: John 18:15-27  Word of the Week: DENY Speaker: Ben Daniel

Takeaways

Peter gets a bad rap.  We tend to focus on his impetuousness, kamikaze-like behavior (i.e., going after a mob with a sword), and denial of Christ.  But consider that Peter was one of few (or any) who

-received a nickname from Christ

-was invited to the Mount of Transfiguration

-walked on water

-was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

-was in the courtyard during Jesus’ arrest.

We can say that Peter was “all in, ” and Jesus was “all in” for him. Jesus, aligning with His Father, prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail him—and ultimately, it didn’t.

Three specific episodes come to mind that help shape Peter.

1. John 13:6—10 — Jesus is washing the disciples’ feet, and Peter initially refuses to receive this service. But once Jesus explains its significance, Peter is all in.

2. In John 18:3-16, Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. This is bold and reckless, but it shows Peter’s devotion to Jesus.

3. John 13:36-38 – When Peter denies his connection with Jesus but ultimately walks away in tears, realizing that he cannot stop what will happen to his best friend and has publicly denied an association with him.

Jesus knows Peter, whom he nicknamed “rock.”  He knows Peter’s heart is fully devoted, committed, and relentlessly passionate. However, with those qualities comes the risk of reckless and thoughtless behavior. Jesus prays, asking the Father to help Peter remain faithful. Even though Peter stumbles, his heart remains fixed on Jesus, and he is loyal, becoming a martyr for Christ. 

How does this encourage us? Jesus knows us, too. He knows our hearts. He is praying for us, too. Setting our minds on things like this—the things of God—is abiding, not finishing a to-do list of religious tasks. Relating with Jesus, asking what He wants to do in a situation, talking to Him about life, relationships, and work—and listening—leads us to the kind of relationship Peter had with Jesus. We are all in with each other and faithful through eternity.

Reflection Prompters

1. How have you typically viewed Peter?

2. What characteristics of Peter stand out to you as positive?

3. How do you typically view yourself and how God made you? Do you usually look at yourself through a positive or negative lens?

4. How do you typically view others who are different from you? The other disciples undoubtedly had opinions of Peter (even John comes across as a little competitive toward him.)  What do you see in how Jesus treated Peter and prayed for Him that can inspire you to consider how to think about and treat other brothers and sisters in Christ?

5. Although the 21 Days of Prayer have concluded, we encourage you to continue reading or rereading None Like Him at the pace the Lord guides, not with a plan to finish the book by a specific time. The book offers much to consider, and we hope you will give it time to sink in.