Sarah Nyhan

Before Christ was crucified, Peter was in his own strength saying, “I got this.” And it is recorded how Peter failed.

Yet I say, “I’d never be like Peter. Everyone else might, but not me, God.” And then I fail also in my own ways. I don’t trust Him and take matters into my own hands. Like Adam and Eve?

After everyone failed Jesus, Peter and the rest of the guys were hiding and went back to what they knew before their failures. Yet Jesus revealed Himself to them! He pursued them as they were failing to provide for themselves.

Did Jesus say, “If you would have laid down your lives for me, you probably would be having a better time right now.” Nope! Jesus rather gave them a choice: “Keep doing it your way or listen to Me.” They were overwhelmed with goodness when they listened to Him.

That goodness opened their eyes. Peter ran to Him. Did Jesus respond to Peter by saying, “I just died for you after you denied me. The least you could do is cook me some breakfast, Peter!”? Nope! Jesus said, “Kids, you are hungry. Drop your burdens and eat some fish tacos I made for you.”

Did Jesus say, “Peter, since you never gave up and showed all these wimps how to live the Christian life, now I’m going to leave you in charge of everyone when I’m gone.”? Nope!

Did Jesus say, “Peter, since you repented and believed enough after you screwed up, I’m going to put you in charge when I leave so you can show the rest of these hoodlums how to be a Christian when I’m gone.”? Nope!

Rather maybe as a picture of redeeming Adam’s failure, Jesus redeemed Peter’s original failure in front of everyone: “Peter, do you have what it takes this time?” “No, Lord. I have a little but not enough.” Again: “Peter, do you have what it takes?” “No, Lord.” And a third time, “Peter, do you have what it takes?” “No, Lord. You know I don’t have what it takes.” Then Jesus says, “Great! Now you are ready! Tell them how much I love you. Tell them how much I love them.”

Just like with Moses: “I got this, Lord!” God says, “Whoa Moses, let me show you some stuff.” And out Moses goes to the desert with dirty stinky sheep for a few decades. Then after Moses has lost all hope of his dreams being fulfilled, God shows up and says, “Are you ready, Moses?” “No way, God. Look at me!” “Exactly, look at you – perfect for what I AM doing! I don’t need your strength, Moses.”

God doesn’t need my strength. God doesn’t need our strength, children.

Just like with the Israelites. Why were Joshua and Caleb praised? They knew God! They didn’t see circumstances through the eyes of their own efforts.

Just like with Abraham. Another picture of Adam and us. “Ok Abe, I am giving you a promise.” “Sounds great, Lord.” Time goes by and all Abe sees is his own inabilities. Sarah, like Eve, eventually says, “Maybe God left us to figure this out on our own?” And she and Abraham proceed to make a mess of things.

How does God respond? “That’s it! I can’t stand ya’ll!” Nope! God rather responds with more grace by saying, “I don’t even need your strength of believing, Abraham. I don’t need your strength of faith.” God gives Abraham the promise of a son before Abraham believed. Did Abraham’s subsequent acts of unbelief nullify God’s promise? Nope! God already knew and factored Abraham’s unbelief into the original plan!

After God gives Abraham the promise of a son, He sealed the promise by using the perfect picture. In those days there was a tradition where parties to an agreement would kill an animal and split its body in half. Then they signified and sealed the agreement walking through the middle of the slaughtered animal so as to say, “If I don’t keep my part of this promise then let the same thing be done to me as to this animal.” But when God had Abraham setup the animals, he did not let Abraham walk through the middle! There was only a torch to represent God that was sent through middle to show that only God was tied to keeping the promise!

God had Abraham setup the slaughtered animals during the day but waited until the darkness for The Light to pass through and seal the deal. Yet another picture.

Now that is good news!