Devotional Thoughts: Peter

Jesus is telling His closest disciples/followers to not be troubled. Peter might be my favorite disciple. Right beforehand Peter tells Jesus he would give his life for him. He expresses great faith. Jesus then turns to Peter to tell him he will disown Jesus three times before morning, before the rooster crows.I don’t know about you, but if I were in Peter’s shoes I’d feel hurt, offended and upset! I just expressed to Jesus I’d die for him!

Jesus then tells them to believe in Him. Believe in God. Jesus knows what’s coming. They will need faith, the kind that affects actions.

I don’t even know anything close to what’s ahead for the disciples. I don’t know these troubles firsthand: arrest, trial, innocent but declared guilty, mocking and murder. I have survived unscathed from these things. My troubles are more about trying to make it financially, repairing broken relationships, trying to run my household, and dealing with health issues. They pale in comparison to what troubles the disciples are about to face.

It’s my belief and faith that see me through. Jesus tells them to believe in Him and in God. This is how they are to overcome what’s about to happen. This is true as well for you and I today.

Then Jesus gives hope by telling them this:

“2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

He will take care of them. They belong in a mansion.

When we turn the page, in the book of Acts, Peter is a powerful preacher. Many come to faith through him. We read that people are even laying their sick out on the street in hopes that Peter’s shadow will pass over them so they may be healed. Emotional Peter is a hero in his faith!

Peter’s death isn’t recorded in the Bible. Christian tradition is that Peter was crucified. He requested to be crucified upside down considering himself unworthy to die like Jesus. A record of martyrs was kept chained next to the Bible for believers to read. It was that important. Remember this was way before the invention of the printing press.

“Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome . . .” (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs).

Don’t be troubled today by the things of this world. Here’s what Jesus said in verse 6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Peter knew this. I know this. Do you?