“And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.” Mark 14:72 ESV
Reflection: how has your faith in Jesus been tested?
My first job after college was in Oslo, Norway. I had spent more than two years in the United States finishing up an engineering degree, and was ready to start work. Or so I thought. I had grown up in a Christian family, surrounded by Christian friends, and so on. I knew who I was in Christ. But, as I met one of my colleagues in my new job, I got a question that not only challenged me, but I wasn’t ready for. When he heard I was from the south of Norway, he said in a condescending, mocking tone, “are you one of those Christians?” To which I surprisingly replied “No”. I immediately felt the conviction. What in the world had I said?
I was absolutely a Christian.
I also knew his question was tied to the stigma of the Christians in the south, which in a way I also had an issue with. But instead of my cowardly answer of simply saying “no”, I should have clearly followed up with something like “I am, however, a follower of Christ.” I have spent a lot of time in shame, in sorrow, repenting for that answer, thinking of Jesus words “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 ESV. Did His words apply to me?
Peter’s story of his denying even knowing Jesus is very interesting, and has certainly been very comforting to me. I think we can really relate to Peter in many ways. I know I can, at least. Peter, with all his good intentions and also his obvious flaws, was confronted with his own weakness. Remember that he had made a public declaration of his comment to Jesus, in front of the other disciples, “Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” “But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.” Mark 14:29, 31 ESV. I don’t doubt his intentions at all. I think he really meant this. So, why did he fail so miserably when he was confronted by this young servant girl at the courtyard of the high priest?
Peter had never been tested.
It is so easy to be a follower of Christ, among other followers of Christ. Among the likeminded. It doesn’t cost much to proclaim our faith there, in front of other Christians. But when we are confronted, even mocked, by the world, by those who are in the world, at work, in the neighborhood, among “friends”, even to non-believing family members, to confess our faith in Jesus has suddenly a cost. We might be excluded at work, even lose opportunities for promotions. We might be thought of as extreme and strange by the neighbors. We will probably lose friends. And, perhaps even family might shun us. In many parts of the world, there is a much higher cost, to the point of imprisonment and even death.
How far will our faith take us?
What is so comforting with the story of Peter is that he did fail, as I did. But Jesus knew this all along, as He even told him in advance that he would fail. But, Jesus also knew his heart. That he would repent. That this test would ultimately strengthen Peter’s faith, that He truly could build the church upon Peter. So, there is hope for all of us, to be redeemed, even if we have failed like Peter did. For me, I therefore can proclaim, that
I am a child of God and a follower of Christ.
