Will You Get Back Up When You Fall?

Today’s Gospel ends like this:

Peter: I will lay down my life for you

Jesus: Will you? Like seriously?

Peter: [nods head]

Jesus: You will deny me three times before the rooster crows.

Crowd: No he didn’t!

(At least that’s how it went down in my head)

That had to hurt. I mean, that isn’t exactly how you want Jesus’ last dinner on Earth to end. Talk about awkward.

I don’t like to rejoice in another person’s mistakes, but I have to say that it is pretty comforting that the first Pope, the guy that Jesus personally chose to lead the Church could blow it like this.

Jesus even knows in advance. He even warns Peter. Peter claims it won’t happen, but we all know it does (Palm Sunday’s Gospel was the full story from Luke; we hear the prediction, and the actualization). Peter denies Jesus three times. Yet, knowing this, Jesus still wants him to lead the Church.

Out of everyone, Peter was the best option. Flawed Peter. Sorry, I’m really dwelling on this, but he hugged Jesus, he saw all the miracles. He flipping walked on water! He was chosen to be the first Pope … but he wasn’t perfect.

The question isn’t, “Will we make mistakes?” The question is, “Will we keep making the same mistakes? Will we repent and try harder the next time?”

See, Peter’s denial of Jesus isn’t the end. He feels horrible about it, he weeps, he changes, he gets up and at Pentecost converts 3000 people with his inspired words. He leads the Church. He eventually dies for his Faith.

Will we do the same? Will we get back up and do something awesome? When challenged in our Faith, do we stand up for what is right, or keep quiet?

But seriously, Jesus, calling Peter out in front of everyone? That’s a bold move!

—
Kyle Heimann is a professional speaker/musician and blogs at www.kyleheimann.com. (He is also part of Popple www.popple.us and Spork www.sporkyall.com)