John 14 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. " (John 14:1, 2)

Jesus has just told Peter that before morning he will even deny that he knows the Lord. With Peter's quick temper, I can imagine that he was fuming. He was probably hurt, too. Here he is, he's just professed his willingness to even die for the Lord... And the Lord's reaction is to say, "Yah, Right!" (Roberts Translation). Peter may have even be sulking.

Reuben Welch in the book "We Really Need to Listen" talks about this passage of scripture. It's been over 20 years since I've read the book, but his thoughts are with me every time I read these verses.

He calls these verses "Stained Glass" words. You know... The ones where you walk into a church and there in Old English Script are printed "Let not your heart be troubled". There would be a depiction of the Lord with his hands outstretched, and maybe a brass plaque at the bottom that says "Donated in the memory of Beatrice Johnson by her beloved husband". I know that I've used these verses many times as the scripture reading for a funeral service. But that is not the intent of these words.

To fully understand the meaning of these words, we have to take out that big number 14. Now the verses immediately before and after read, "Then Jesus answered, 'Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God; trust also in me. ' " This totally changes the way I've always looked at these verses. This is not a funeral verse, it's a verse of hope and forgiveness. Peter is about to mess up as much as anyone can mess up, in fact all the disciples are about to tuck their tails between their legs and go running... But Christ says to them "Don't be sad... Trust me."

Father, I let you down so many times and you continue to remind me not to be troubled about it... But to trust you. I love you. I'm willing to die for you. Thank you for loving me even when I don't follow through on what I say I'm going to do.

- posted by Steve R. @ 8:32 AM

 
"Simon Peter asked him, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus replied, 'Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.' Peter asked, 'Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.' Then Jesus answered, 'Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!' " John 13:36-38

The Lord has begun a discussion of what was heavy on his heart. He has told the apostles that he was getting ready to leave and has started to share with them the critical teachings that he wants them to remember. The first, last thing he tells them is that they should love one another, that this is in fact a command to them.

The Lord must be really patient. Right in the middle of his death bed communication, Peter interrupts. "Where are you going?" How rude. What's it to Peter where the Lord is going? But in Pete's defense, they have been hanging together for the past three years, so I guess it's OK to ask. I just don't like the way he asks it... He's rude enough to just interrupt the Master mid-sentence. Or is it that he is comfortable enough to ask. A lot of the time when I talk with God, I use stilted language, I am careful not to use language that is not prayerful. I guess I'm more charismatic than I may have thought, because I definitely have my own prayer language. "Oh, thou God of Jeroboam, Rheaboam and all the other Boams... I humbly beseech you...". Here's Pete... "Where ya' going?" Maybe I need to learn from this.

I'm so much like Peter. According to Tim LaHaye and his book on the temperaments, Peter is a Sanguine. A fiery salesman type. My secondary temperament is Sanguine. So I can understand where he is coming from here. Sanguines often speak before they think. They'll make promises they know they can't keep. They probably all wear plaid sport coats and sell used cars on the weekend. Peter asserts that he would follow Christ anywhere... In fact he'd be willing to die for him. But Christ knows better... "No, Peter, you won't die for me. In fact, before morning you'll even deny that you know me". I guess I'm more like Peter than I thought.

Father, I'm often making claims to you about my love for you. But there have been lots of times that I could have spoken up in your behalf and I just stay quiet. Just like Peter, I claim to be closer to you than I really am. Father, today give me boldness and strength to both live for you and to stand up for you. It's not always easy, but then who said being a follower and believer is always easy?

- posted by Steve R. @ 9:15 AM