Having participated in sports growing up and continuing my athletic interest as a fan in later years, I’ve noticed a certain phenomenon, especially in basketball, though it certainly applies in some way in other sports and areas of life. A particular player makes a basket or a good play in some noticeable way and becomes so excited he immediately commits a foul on defense through the burst of excess energy of the emotional lift he received from what he did right the moment before. So the good that was accomplished is then so soon at risk of being undone by the error that followed so quickly on its heels. That must have been why there was a great coach who taught that players ought not to get too discouraged about failures or too elated about success, but rather strive to keep an even keel by remaining steady through the full range of their experience.
It is to these kinds of thoughts that minds might turn when we come upon the Apostle Peter’s experience in the 16th chapter of Matthew’s gospel. Peter had just correctly answered Jesus’ question “who do you say that I am?” Jesus had just blessed Peter saying that he had answered by revelation from the Father and that this was to be foundational for the church and his role in it. Jesus even seemed to assign him a new name at that point, a name meaning “rock” or “petros” because he had been formerly known as Simon bar Jonah. Peter was to receive the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. The gates of death itself could not resist or withstand the advance of the Church! All of this was overwhelmingly affirming for Peter who, like so many basketball players, got overly excited and then proceeded to commit a serious “foul” by daring to rebuke Jesus two verses later for talking about the suffering and death to come. “Never , Lord!” or also translated”God forbid!” or “Mercy to you!” The one whose lips had flowed with revelation only moments before was now proclaiming what he didn’t understand, things too high for him. If in fact Jesus was to receive mercy in this of which He spoke, then there would have been no mercy for Peter or anyone else. And if that were true he and so many disciples since him would be in hell’s torment this very moment! He who had just been referred to as a foundation stone instantly became a stumbling stone, one through God had just spoken was now one through whom the devil was speaking loud and clear, because Peter did not clearly discern the difference and had, in his over confident state, impulsively yielded himself to such. Everything had been going along just fine, but he had suddenly “swerved” from the words of the Lord as we are admonished twice not to do in Proverbs Chapter 4, v.5 and v.27. As a youth I was driving some friends home one night when one suddenly called out for me to turn left. Foolishly I attempted to do it without leeway and crashed into a tree trunk! Thank God no one was hurt! I swerved and crashed, and that’s exactly what Peter did here.
All was not lost though, as we see that within six days Peter was chosen along with James and John to ascend the Mount of Tranfiguration for what would be one of the most momentous and privileged experiences of his life or anyone’s life. But before that he needed to be told to deny himself and take up his cross by allowing Jesus to take up His cross for the redemption of all who believe. Sometimes through our prayers and words and actions we become “amateur providences” in our misguided efforts to come between or prevent the suffering of those about whom we care. Peter was going to have to be broken and crushed like bread and wine grapes need to be crushed before he could truly nourish God’s people, feeding the lambs and sheep as Jesus would instruct him to do in some of his last words to Peter before He ascended.
Then too Peter with his new name and all may have mistaken himself as an individual fragment of a rock for that massive corporate Gibraltar-like rock of God given apostolic revelation, upon which Jesus intended to build His church. Whatever the case, by the grace of God, he got back on track, back in the game and back on a steady, even keel for his part in the mighty move of the Spirit of God, experiencing the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that we read about in the Book of Acts! No, he wasn’t perfect, but he was passionate and purposeful. And by the same grace of God so can we be even if there be failures and costly “fouls” along the way!
trbarlow 