Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my soul. He must have been quite a man.
He was relatively fearless in many respects and was someone
to be reckoned with, humanly speaking. He was probably what
we might call a bull of the woods, the type of man you would be
glad to have around as a friend if someone else was intent on
causing you trouble or bringing harm to you. He was a no-nonsense
type person who meant what he said and said what he meant.
He was the only one of the disciples who had the boldness and temerity
to step out of the boat in quite a frightening scenario. If one
should doubt his willingness to confront those who came to
arrest the Lord Jesus, he need only look at him as he unsheathes
his sword and sets out to cut someone's head off. So we have
no doubt that Peter fully believed and meant what he told the Lord
that he would do. Though all men shall be offended
because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Though I should
die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." While Peter expressed
the true intent of his heart and mind, yet he had to learn
some very important lessons about himself and the nature of the
kingdom of God, and through him those same lessons are illustrated
to the sons of God. The Lord will have all of the
glory in the establishment of His kingdom, and all of the boasting
of men shall be laid in the dust. The endeavors and strength of
men will be brought to nothing. They will be shown to have no
strength at all. Nothing that a man can perform
or will to do can enhance, promote, or hinder this kingdom, nor can
any man stand therein by his own power, might, or activity
of his own free will. Peter was certain that he would
be able to even lay down his life for the Lord if necessary.
Yet Peter, like many strong religious men, was not able to recognize
his own impotence to endure as he confused human endeavor with
the ability to walk in faith. He only considered his ability
in the flesh and assumed that he possessed faith enough to
perform mighty deeds when necessary, like many of the health and wealth
money grabbers of the present day. It was therefore needful
that the Lord should strip Peter of all confidence in his flesh,
so that he might understand that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God. Until a man is brought to know
his total inability to gain any standing with God, he will never
enter therein. The Lord ordained that Peter
should deny him three times. The Lord prophetically declared
to His disciples, All ye shall be offended because of me this
night. But Peter said unto him, Although
all shall be offended, yet will not I. After Peter's first affirmation
of his own strength, the Lord prophesied that this very night
Peter would deny Him three times. Once again, Peter rejected the
Lord's prophecy and said with even greater vigor, If I should
die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. So we see him
twice trusting to the arm of the flesh and certain that he
had the right stuff to stand with and for the Lord. In this
he is akin to those who in the present day speak about their
great faith. Any man who will boast of his
ability to be strong and stand firm in the faith and devotion
is not well acquainted with either Peter or himself. The arm of
the flesh will surely fail, even when it may appear to men that
it is able to stand and even triumph to some degree. Then
we see Peter's final affirmation of his willingness to die with
and or for the Lord when he drew his sword. It appears that some
of the disciples asked the Lord whether or not they should draw
their swords. But Peter did not wait for an answer, but took
matters into his own hands and smoked Malchus, cutting off his
ear when he probably intended to cut off his head. I find it
interesting that Peter's final denial was as extreme as was
his final act of affirmation, a fitting end for the boasting
of men, for immediately the cock crowed when Peter denied the
Lord the third time. Peter denied that he knew the
Lord three times just like he affirmed his allegiance and unwavering
devotion three times. The fact that the Lord chastened
Peter in the fashion which he did demonstrates that he will
lose none of those which the Father gave him and will not
leave his sheep to fend for themselves or to be found relying upon their
own righteousness and power. He will humble those whom he
loves and give them a broken and contrite heart. Peter was
brought to repentance by the mercy and power of God. Are you
strong in your faith like Peter in the beginning, or humble before
the Lord as he was in the end?