Disarming Christians

Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when one of the High Priest’s servant women came to him and said, ‘You, too, were with Jesus of Galilee.’

But he denied it in front of them all. ‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ he answered, and went on out to the entrance of the courtyard. Another servant woman saw him and said to the men there, ‘He was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again Peter denied it and answered, ‘I swear that I don’t know that man!’ (verses 69-72)

Read Matthew 26:69-75

‘You know what I hate about you Christians? You’re always telling people what to do.’ I’d been critical of his lifestyle and now his angry words hit home. I could justify the church’s teaching, but I could never justify my part in making him feel rejected. I’ve since realised how dangerous Christians can be.

Peter was one of those dangerous Christians. He was ready to die for Jesus, and he always put himself on the line. Imagine how this man would have felt about secret Christians. Jesus had many secret disciples who didn’t want others to know that they believed in him. It would have been easy for Peter to say, ‘You can’t be one of us if you’ve denied Jesus’. But after a servant made Peter deny that he even knew Jesus, he was shattered. Now he was ready to forgive as he had been forgiven.

If your life seems clean compared to others, you need to remember the times when you’ve fallen, so that you can help others up. But if you feel as if your whole life is one disaster, praise God, who will use your experiences to help others out of their rubble.

Lord, may I forgive and love others as you do. Amen.

by Jörg Ernst, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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