Overconfidence of Peter (and us)

I just love Peter.  Probably because I see myself so clearly in him.  Peter had to learn everything the hard way.  Peter had to come face to face with his own pride as he was finally confronted with exactly what Jesus had been trying to teach him. 

Jesus in His love had been preparing the disciples for the ultimate trial he was to endure.  He warned them that they would desert Him and He spoke to them about Satan’s desire to sift them like wheat.  This meant that Satan longed to destroy their faith.  Peter, stubborn Peter refused to be humbled and conforted by Christ’s words.  Peter’s pride was in the way.  But Peter would desert Jesus and he would be sifted. 

In the words of Proverbs 16:18 we find that Peter’s actions proved true:  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (NIV)  We can examine Peter’s prideful attitude and we can learn from his mistakes.   I praise God that we have Peter to examine and I ask that we attempt to take into account his failings and learn from them that we wouldn’t fall into that same trap.  Yes, Satan has a trap set for each of us and he would sift us like wheat.

Jesus warned the disciples when they were leaving the upper room that the sheep of the flock would be scattered (Mt 26:31).  But Peter said that even if everyone else falls away, I never will.  A little later he declared that “even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.  We admire Peter’s love for Jesus and his zeal to follow Him even to death.  But look at his pride.  What he was saying was he was superior to the other disciples, he boasted that they might disown Jesus, but Peter never would.  Those other guys aren’t dependable, but you can count on me.  I wont let you down.  In his own heart, Peter was sincere.  He really thought that he would never deny his Lord.  He looked at the weakness of the others without considering his own.  And the Bible is clear that nothing good happens when we arrogantly compare ourselves with others.  Just when you think you are at the height of strength, your weakness will be proven.  Peter learned his lesson the hard way. 

Peter’s pride indicates a deeper issue.  He was convinced that he had the power in and of himself to stand for Christ no matter what.  His self-confidence of himself led him to minimize the very words of Jesus.  Jesus told him he would deny Him, but Peter disregarded what Jesus was telling him.  The Son of God told him he was going to fall and Peter says, No way, not me. 

Can you think of a time when you thought you were strong only to find out how weak you were?  Peter’s failure came because he didn’t realize his need to be totally dependent on Christ for everything.  Many of us ususally wait for our natural strength to fail and it’s only then we start to depend on Christ. 

I passed a church sign the other week that said, “When all else fails, seek Christ”  I wondered “why not seek Him first?”   If we start out depending on Jesus then maybe the lessons won’t be so hard to learn.  I wonder if later that night as he cried bitter tears did Peter remember a time when Jesus taught them that He was the source of their strength?  The day when passing a vineyard, Jesus pointed to the plants and said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)  As with Peter, most of us need a lifetime to learn this lesson.

Peter refused to believe the clear warnings of Jesus about how he would fail.  What are some of Christ’s teachings that you are prone to ignore?  Some of us may be chasing the world and all it offers, while Jesus tells us we can’t serve both God and money(Lk. 16:13).  Some may put their confidence in how spiritual they look to other men, refusing to believe that God looks at the heart (1Sam. 16:7).  Or do we refuse to see how serious our sins are before a holy God (Mk 9:47)? 

The Word of God is direct and specific and we would do well to heed them.  Jesus spoke plainly to Peter so there would be no misunderstanding.  Jesus knew Peter’s heart.  Peter didn’t humble himself to the teaching of Jesus, his pride got in the way.  Peter had to learn the hard way and his example stands as a warning to each of us.  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Peter wrote this in 1Peter 5:5.  He finally got it figured out. 

I remember as a child my mother always said to me, “you just don’t listen!”  I do love Peter, because just maybe through his over confidence he might have kept me from learning EVERY lesson the hard way.

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