22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Impetuous Peter seemed always to be the first responder of Jesus’ disciples. He was generally the leading man of the Lord’s guys – appearing to be the most eager, the most likely to speak up, the most likely to jump out of the boat as well as the most likely to draw the sword and cut off an ear of the opposition! He would have been a wonderful 911 worker! I have to believe Jesus loved Peter’s zeal and passion even if it could be askewed! To his credit, he was right on target - some of the time! Consider his fine response to Jesus’ query regarding Who the disciples said that He was. His answer received a definite high five from our Lord:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. Matt 16:13-20 (NIV)
Then there were the other times where his star did not shine quite so brightly. Take for instance when he was thoroughly convinced that he would never betray his Master – insisting that he would never disown Him, even to the point of death. It may not serve us well to be too over the top with zeal if we have a tendency to run ahead with our mouths! Proverbs tells us that ambitious drive without adequate knowledge may lead to hasty blunders – just exactly what happened to Peter as follows:
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. Prov 19:2 (NIV)
31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." 34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." 35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Matt 26:31-35 (NIV)
Being the very impulsive type myself, I have no trouble relating to Peter. I can readily see myself jumping out of the boat to walk on water as well as running like a chicken when the circumstances get frightening just to save my own skin. It is easy for me to think I can handle something beforehand – before the fire starts to sizzle and the temperature rises - then realize I am sorely out of my league! Let’s get real, apart from Christ I am always sorely out of my league. I love the promise of Scripture given through the pen of Paul in Philippians breathing hope to my soul:
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 (NIV)
“Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.” Thomas a Kempis
In our verses for today, the disciples were heartsick over the Lord’s news of betrayal and were certainly at a loss as to whom He could be referring. The disciples saw their Master troubled and they too were troubled. It is God’s desire for our hearts to break over the things that break His and rejoice over those things that bring Him joy. We can be sure that He is zealous over His Word, His glory, and the souls of men – all of which are eternal. In contrast, He detests sin and the effects of it. Paul tells us in Romans how we are to relate to man – how much more so to the God of all creation:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV)
We would do well to remember that the Lord Jesus wept over the lost in Jerusalem, longing to gather them yet they remained unwilling and it broke His holy heart:
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate." Matt 23:37-38 (NIV)
Remember too how the angels rejoice in heaven over each sinner that turns back to God from their point of departure:
10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10 (NIV)