Simon Peter sincerely believed he loved the Lord with a greater intensity than the other eleven disciples.
When Jesus told the disciples he would wash their feet, Peter replied, “You shall never wash my feet”.
Then Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me”.
Peter then said, “Not just my feet but my hands and head as well”.
Peter was playing the game of one-up-man-ship – showing that he loved Jesus more than any of the Twelve. He went on to say, “I will lay down my life for you” – saying something none of the othes had said. After that Jesus said to Peter, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times”. Peter of course dismissed this out of hand. But that is exactly what happened within hours: Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. When the rooster crowed Jesus looked at Peter who then sobbed his heart out.
What is the point I am making? You could have put Peter under a lie detector and he would have said sincerely that he loved Jesus more than the others. He did not know his own heart.
Are you like Peter? Have you thought you had a devotion to the Lord that exceeded everybody else’s? Be careful. For after Jesus’ resurrection when He appeared to some of the disciples by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus singled out Peter: “Do you love me more than these”, that is, more than the others here love me?
Jesus knew Peter’s mind. He knows ours. And he has a way of exposing how shallow we really are. When Jesus then told Peter how he would die, Peter could only think of John nearby – “What about him?” Jesus replied, “What is that to you? You follow me”.
I ask, Did Peter ever get sorted? Probably not. But God still used him. And he will use you and me, unworthy though we are.
Dr RT Kendall was speaking on Premier Christian Radio's Thought for the Day. To hear more from RT, listen in to Inspirational Breakfast every morning this week from 7am
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