{"id":5522,"date":"2012-07-31T07:25:46","date_gmt":"2012-07-31T07:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?p=5522"},"modified":"2024-11-26T22:45:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T22:45:51","slug":"sympathetic-savior-relationships-of-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/believe\/sympathetic-savior-relationships-of-jesus","title":{"rendered":"Sympathetic Savior: Christ’s Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"
by Steven Gledhill<\/em><\/span> for FREEdom from MEdom Project<\/span><\/h5>\n

Ask yourself this question: Why is it so hard to believe that the three-person union that is God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) could by choice “create” the visible manifestation of Himself to be of a fully human nature, by willing choice void of divine nature, with a need to depend on the divine nature and authority of the other two persons of God? Is it because it would be too great a shock to our religious traditions and customs of what we claim to be sound doctrine and theology? Some will not even ask the questions or have a discussion about it; perhaps since such a discussion would lead to quarreling about doctrine. I am asking that you be open to asking the question guided by Scriptural truth, particularly that spoken of by Jesus himself about himself while flesh as a human being.<\/p>\n

“I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”<\/span> John 5:30 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So then, since we have a great High Priest (advocate)\u00a0who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.\u00a0This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.\u00a0So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.<\/span> Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In talking about the relationships of Jesus in the context of his humanity, we need to continually be mindful of how incredibly difficult and complex it must have been to be in his sandals while he lived as a person of selfish flesh.\u00a0 He must have been entrapped by temptation day and night.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While Jesus certainly had a number of interesting human relationships while living in his human experience; whether it be the close relationships with his earthly parents, friends and supporters of his ministry and the hundreds of disciples, of which the closest were the twelve, including perhaps his best friend and confidant, John; or whether it be adversarial relationships such as Pharisees and scribes; among the most complicated relationships of Christ during that time I suspect were with Peter and Mary Magdalene, which are of emphasis here.<\/p>\n

Jesus had celebrity status in the latter days of his ministry.\u00a0 You might say that he was somewhat of an icon in his era.\u00a0 So many Jews had pinned their hopes on Jesus to lead them out from under the thumb of the Roman Empire.\u00a0 Crowds numbering into the thousands followed him wherever he went every day.\u00a0 I wonder how I would handle that.<\/p>\n

What do we know about celebrities?\u00a0 They work their whole lives to be good enough at what they do to be famous and make reams of money, and then, when they have made it to the big time, they resist their fame and complain about it.\u00a0 They often plead to reporters and to their fans, \u201cPlease, please leave me alone and let me lead a normal<\/em> life.\u201d\u00a0 Huh?<\/p>\n

I wonder if Jesus ever struggled with pride from all the attention he received. I would imagine he did in some form or another if he was “human enough” to genuinely experience temptation.\u00a0He was considered a rebel by the mainstream society, which brought even greater attention. One thing we know, too, about famous rock stars, movie stars and athletes, is that there are those of the opposite sex throwing themselves at them willing to do just about anything to touch them and be close to them.\u00a0 I tend to think that Jesus had this dilemma with all of the popular attention he was receiving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Early on in his ministry around the age of thirty, Jesus began to draw attention to himself by performing a miracle or two.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure there were those who enjoyed the performance, even if they missed the point of what he was doing.\u00a0 As he grew in popularity and people began to follow him around, I would imagine that women found Jesus to be attractive and deliberately sought him out in that context.\u00a0 It must have been tempting even to Jesus as a single man.<\/p>\n

There may be some at this moment a bit taken back that I\u2019ve even gone there.\u00a0 I may be presumptuous in going there, but if Jesus was never tempted sexually as a man\u2014a single man at that\u2014then he was not tempted in every point common to the human experience as Scripture says he was (Hebrews 4:15).\u00a0 As a man tempted, I have no problem with this presumption.<\/p>\n

Mary Magdalene<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most interesting of the relationships Jesus had with women is his friendship with Mary Magdalene. I admit that there is something curiously fascinating in my own mind about the relationship Jesus had with Mary Magdalene.\u00a0 Did he sin in this relationship?\u00a0 No, he did not.\u00a0 Is it possible that Jesus could have had a physical attraction and\/or feelings of fond affection for her? Not only possible but, in my opinion, likely.\u00a0 Is it possible that he may have felt (do I dare say?) sensual feelings for her?\u00a0 I dare say it is at least possible.\u00a0 He may have felt romantic love for her. Why not? As God, He invented romantic love. To feel it as a man would allow him to understand this kind of love as a human being, and to sympathize with our weakness when it comes to romantic love as well as the sensuality of it. I do not intend to refuel any controversy, but Mary had become a close dear friend as a disciple of Jesus.\u00a0 Would a fondness for Mary deter Jesus from his calling and purpose to redeem mankind? While it may have affected him in ways we will never know, clearly, it did not stall his mission.<\/p>\n

If we are honest in our interpretation of Scripture, for Jesus to be tempted in \u201call points\u201d, his sensual senses must have been awake, experiencing some degree of temptation.\u00a0 Once again, I do not write this to stir up controversy.\u00a0 I am simply being honest as a man.\u00a0 To more fully appreciate his sinless life in the flesh, I need to consider that Jesus struggled in the flesh and overcame his natural <\/em>tendency to give in to selfish human desires.<\/p>\n

To some, it might sound like heresy to consider at all that Jesus, as an adolescent and then as a grown adult man, would have to wrestle with the issue of lust.\u00a0 Think about it, even Satan tempted Jesus with a lust for power at the outset of his ministry.\u00a0 Pride and lust are prime sources of considerable temptation for men.\u00a0 Men of faith are chronicled throughout history as having struggled with, and given in to, pride and lust from Adam to Abraham to Samson to David to Solomon, and throughout the generations to people of faith we have seen fall.<\/p>\n

Jesus was bigger in popularity and fame than all of them.\u00a0 If I am to believe that Jesus was tempted in every way so as to be able to fully sympathize with my human experience, then he was tempted as well to give in to selfish pride, selfish ambition, and even selfish passions. \u00a0Yet he never did. \u00a0The addictive seduction of temptation on Jesus was powerful, yet he resisted each and every time. \u00a0It was not merely a given that Jesus endured in the flesh without having sinned.\u00a0 Let\u2019s not take that for granted.\u00a0 As I\u2019ve said, when we can better comprehend this, we can more fully appreciate the sinless life of Christ.<\/p>\n

Peter, the disciple of faith<\/span><\/h2>\n

Simon Peter, another disciple of Jesus, also had a special relationship with Christ during his time on earth. Peter, known as Simon until Jesus began calling him Peter, had heard of Jesus healing people.\u00a0 When Simon\u2019s mother-in-law was sick with a severe fever, he sent a message to Jesus, requesting that he come to his house.\u00a0 According to Scripture (Luke 4:38-39), Jesus left the synagogue, where I suppose he was worshipping, arrived at Simon\u2019s home, and stood over his mother-in-law and rebuked the fever, and it left her.\u00a0 She was healed, and got up immediately to serve Jesus and care for those at her home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Early on in his ministry, Jesus was developing a growing following.\u00a0 Jesus knew he needed help and began to recruit a team that he could rely on to support his ministry.\u00a0 The crowd followed Jesus to a lake called Gennesaret where he noticed two boats unattended.\u00a0 He climbed into one of the boats while the fishermen were washing their nets.<\/p>\n

It was probably in the early light of morning, after the fishermen had worked through the night.\u00a0 Jesus was talking to the crowd that morning from the boat, Simon\u2019s boat.\u00a0 He asked Simon to push away from shore a bit as he continued teaching the crowd that gathered along the shore.<\/p>\n

When Simon Peter and his co-workers returned to the boat, Jesus stopped speaking to the crowd.<\/p>\n

He said to Simon, \u201cLaunch out into the deep and let your nets down for a catch.\u201d\u00a0 But Simon answered and said to Him, \u201cMaster, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.\u201d\u00a0 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.\u00a0 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.\u00a0 And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.\u00a0 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus\u2019 knees, saying, \u201cDepart from me, I am a sinful man, O Lord.\u201d\u00a0 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, who were partners with Simon.\u00a0 And Jesus said to Simon, \u201cDo not be afraid.\u00a0 From now on you will be catchers of men.\u201d\u00a0 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.<\/span> Luke 5: 4-11 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What fascinates me about the relationship Simon Peter strikes up with Jesus here is what it will cost him to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Simon was a married man.\u00a0 He was a family man.\u00a0 He was employed and a responsible provider for his family.\u00a0 The Bible says he \u201cforsook all<\/em>\u201d to go into a traveling ministry with Jesus.\u00a0 Synonyms for the word \u2018forsake\u2019 include words like, abandon<\/em>, renounce<\/em>, and disown<\/em>.\u00a0 Did Simon literally abandon his family to follow Jesus?\u00a0 Did he disown his wife who he loved?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>This could not have been an easy decision in this man\u2019s life.\u00a0 It took incredible courage, not only on Simon Peter\u2019s part, but the courage and commitment to the ministry of Jesus on the part of his entire family.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t know the man Jesus all that long, but they were confident that he was special.\u00a0 He healed Simon\u2019s mother-in-law.\u00a0 And he provided Simon\u2019s family with such a phenomenal catch of fish that financially his family could have lived off the profits of that single day\u2019s catch for some time.<\/p>\n

Simon Peter was going into the kind of service that, on many occasions, definitely proved to be a battle.\u00a0 He humbled himself, leaving everything that was comfortable—the life he knew and loved—to venture into unfamiliar territory with a group of men, some he barely knew, serving the people with the man Jesus, who Simon believed in from the depths of his soul.<\/p>\n

Jesus led by example.\u00a0 He taught Simon how to forgive and even how to love his enemies.\u00a0 He taught Simon how to pray, and how to have confidence in God by faith.<\/p>\n

It is important to appreciate the culture of the day in which Simon Peter was living.\u00a0 The Roman Empire was the governing state over the Jewish people.\u00a0 Its territory extended well over two thousand miles from as far west as Spain, up to what is now Great Britain, throughout most of Europe, including France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rome\u2019s rule extended into the Middle East by what is known today as Israel, Syria, Jordan, and into Asia to the east. It also covered vast territory along the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, including what today is Libya and Egypt.<\/p>\n

The Jews longed to be a nation again, to be an independent state, something that would not occur until 1948 after World War II.\u00a0 But back in the day of Christ, the Jews saw Jesus as a powerful force, their deliverer from the rule of the Romans.\u00a0 As their<\/em> Messiah, believing Jews eagerly anticipated becoming an independent state again under the reign of their <\/em>new King, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.\u00a0 They had even hoped to have the military might capable of dealing with Rome, as the Israel of their ancestors had defeated their enemies with God on their side.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we were hoping that it was He (Jesus) who was going to redeem Israel.\u201d<\/span> Luke 14:21 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Jesus, saying, \u201cLord, will You at this<\/em> time (post resurrection) restore the kingdom of Israel?\u201d<\/span> Acts 1:6 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Simon Peter hoped to reign with Christ in this restored kingdom (statehood) of Israel when that day of independence would finally come.\u00a0 Simon had the privilege of traveling with Jesus from city to city proclaiming that Jesus was sent by God to heal the sick, forgive sins, perform signs and wonders, and to be King, leading all people to the Father.\u00a0 There would be no mistake that Jesus had \u2018other-worldly\u2019 capability and power.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>While traveling by boat, Jesus and his disciples encountered a mighty storm.\u00a0 Their boat was thrown about like a play toy in the sea.\u00a0The Bible says that the boat was covered with the waves, but Jesus was asleep.\u00a0The disciples were in fear for their lives as they believed this gale would rip their boat to shreds and that they would be swallowed up by the sea.<\/p>\n

The disciples, in a panic, woke Jesus from his sleep, saying to him,<\/p>\n

\u201cTeacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”\u00a0<\/span>Mark 4:38 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cLord save us!\u00a0 We are perishing!\u201d\u00a0 But He said to them, \u201cWhy are you fearful, O you of little faith?\u201d\u00a0 Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.\u00a0 So the men marveled, saying, \u201cWho can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey<\/em> Him?\u201d<\/span> Matthew 8:25-27 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is an amazing event in the lives of these men who were in a panic, scared to death on that boat.\u00a0 It must have blown their minds that Jesus could remain asleep through such a vicious storm.\u00a0 The difference is that Jesus was the source of their belief and faith.<\/p>\n

In this story, it is clear that the disciples had in fact learned something about who they were in the midst of their dire circumstances, compared to who Jesus was.\u00a0 They knew they were powerless, and were at the mercy of the wind and waves of the sea.\u00a0 They admitted <\/em>their powerlessness to Jesus when they pleaded with him to save them.\u00a0 They evidently believed <\/em>that Jesus could help them as they woke him up and cried out emphatically, \u201cLord save us!\u201d\u00a0 Where they lacked, it seems, was in their confidence that Jesus would rescue them by the power and authority given by God the Father.\u00a0 They woke him up, and asked him, \u201cDo You not care that we\u2018re going to die in this storm?\u201d (Mark 4:38).<\/p>\n

The disciples, in this case, hit rock bottom.\u00a0 Unless Jesus intervened, they would die. \u00a0They had one option.\u00a0 They were committed <\/em>to trusting him for their recovery from the perilous sea.\u00a0 Jesus did for them just what they needed.\u00a0 He saved them from the threat of death as he commanded the wind to settle down, which it did since even the wind was subject to the authority of Almighty God who imparted his authority to his Son. So I suppose the question is, “Would I rather be in the storm in the boat with Jesus, even when it might seem to me that He isn’t paying attention that the boat is filling with water and about to sink, or would I prefer to be in the storm on the shore (solid ground) without Him? Either way I am in the middle of the storm.<\/p>\n

Walk on water, lately?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Well, feeding thousands of people and cleaning up after them was a great deal of work.\u00a0 Now it was about time to have some fun, time to play.\u00a0 For Peter, it was time for a swim.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Now immediately Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side.\u00a0 And when He sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray.\u00a0 By evening, He was alone there.\u00a0 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves, for the wind was opposing them.\u00a0 Now in the forth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.\u00a0 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, \u201cIt is a ghost!\u201d\u00a0 And they cried out for fear.\u00a0 And immediately Jesus spoke to them, \u201cCheer up, it\u2019s Me!\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And Peter answered Him and said, \u201cLord if it is you, command<\/em> me to come to you on<\/em> the water.\u201d\u00a0 So He said, \u201cCome.\u201d\u00a0 And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord save me!\u201d\u00a0 And immediately<\/em> Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, \u201cO you of little faith, why did you doubt?\u201d\u00a0 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.\u00a0 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Jesus, saying, \u201cTruly You are the Son of God.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I love this story.\u00a0 What a moment in the relationship Jesus had with Peter.\u00a0 We can all agree that Peter was the one that had enough faith to get out of the boat.\u00a0 There were two people in the Bible that walked on water.\u00a0 Jesus, of course, but the other person that walked on water was Peter.\u00a0 We often focus on the fact that Peter doubted and began to sink.\u00a0 We tend to forget that Peter\u2019s faith in Christ was quite impressive. \u00a0<\/strong>Peter did indeed walk on water\u2014an impossible feat.<\/p>\n

Peter recognized that Jesus was doing something that was impossible for him to do.\u00a0 He could admit <\/em>that it was outside of the realm of his own ability to walk on water.\u00a0 Peter shouted out to Jesus, \u201cIf it\u2019s You, Lord, command me to walk on<\/em> the water.\u201d\u00a0 Peter believed<\/em> that only Jesus could command the water to support his body so that he could walk on it.\u00a0 Jesus responded to Peter, \u201cThe water\u2019s nice, come on in!\u201d\u00a0 Peter committed <\/em>to trusting Jesus.\u00a0 He got out of the boat and walked on the water.\u00a0 Peter did well trusting Jesus until he realized he was walking in the middle of the sea surrounded by waves blown about by boisterous winds, and he became overwhelmed by his circumstance and wavered in his commitment <\/em>to trust Jesus to help him with his problem.<\/p>\n

Gripped by fear, Peter dropped like a rock, but Scripture assures us that Jesus was right there to catch him.\u00a0 As soon as Peter began to sink he reached up and Jesus caught him.\u00a0 He would not let Peter drown in his circumstance.<\/p>\n

Here is something else to think about.\u00a0 How far was Jesus from the boat when Peter got out and began walking on water?\u00a0 Jesus was far enough away that the disciples were not sure they recognized him.\u00a0 Remember, Peter said, \u201cIf<\/em> it\u2019s you\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Wherever Jesus was in the sea relative to his distance from the boat, Peter walked on water to within an arm\u2019s length of Jesus.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know but Peter may have walked some distance before he sank and was caught.\u00a0 While it was definitely a teaching moment, I tend to think Jesus had a smile on his face when he said to Peter, \u201cO you of little faith, why did you doubt?\u201d<\/p>\n

I imagine that Jesus displayed a grin, perhaps even chuckling, as if to say to Peter, \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem, big guy, you\u2019re only walking on water?\u201d\u00a0 Peter walked on water!\u00a0 The Bible says Jesus was received into the boat, but what about Peter?\u00a0 Peter walked on water together with Jesus back to the boat.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Peter was still quite frightened even as he walked with Jesus back to the boat.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even guess that Peter hung on for dear life to the arm of Christ as they walked.\u00a0 I\u2019ll say more about this later.<\/p>\n

My friend, Pastor Fran Leeman, has said that if it was him on the boat in the storm, he’d be screaming out, “Lord, if it’s you, do something extraordinary and save us again!” \u00a0Instead, Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you call me to do something extraordinary because I believe in you to empower me to be special.” \u00a0Jesus replied, “Come out of the safety of your life and be special.” \u00a0What an awesome example of relationship between Jesus and those of us who choose to trust in Him.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also observe here the special relationship that Jesus had with his Heavenly Father.\u00a0 We tend to talk about the faith required by Peter to walk on water and to believe in Jesus to command the water to support his ability to walk on it.\u00a0 What we tend not to pay attention to is the faith<\/em> that Jesus, a man of mortal flesh, had in his Father God to command the water to support his<\/em> ability to walk on it.\u00a0 Jesus, in his human nature, could not simply walk on water.\u00a0 He needed the power of supernatural God to empower his natural human body to do such a thing.\u00a0 We know that at some point Peter lacked faith and \u201cbegan\u201d to sink.\u00a0 In that moment, Peter reached up and took the hand of Jesus who was reaching down to him.\u00a0 This is a symbol to us of the entire human experience of Christ.\u00a0 Jesus would not be human if there were not times he might have doubted.\u00a0 Jesus expressed an element of doubt, and for certain, great concern in the garden prior to his arrest.<\/p>\n

I believe that throughout the human experience of Jesus that he had his hand extended upward to God the Father, who was always at every moment extending his hand to his Son imparting divine authority.\u00a0 Just as Peter and Jesus locked hands to prevent Peter from sinking, Jesus locked hands with his Father to keep from sinking in his humanity.\u00a0 Just as Peter walked on water hand in hand with his Lord, Jesus walked on water hand in hand with God throughout his lifetime as a human being, right up until he took our sin which changed everything.<\/p>\n

Simon and his friends continued to witness firsthand the source of their faith\u2014the man they believed in\u2014demonstrating power not of this world.\u00a0 They came to trust that all is possible as long as they were with Christ, staking their very lives in the hope of what he promised them.<\/p>\n

Simon and his fellow disciples and friends would grow in their commitment and steadfastness to the ministry of Jesus. \u00a0As they would see miracles and healings, their expectations grew and their imaginations ran wild.\u00a0 If even the forces of nature obeyed the commands of Jesus, who were the Romans of mere flesh and blood to stand up to him.\u00a0 They grew by faith in their sure certainty that Jesus would indeed be their king.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a matter of if but of when.<\/p>\n

Jesus asked the question to his disciples,<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do you say that I am?\u201d\u00a0 Simon Peter answered and said, \u201cYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus answered and said to him, \u201cBlessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this<\/em> to you, but my Father who is in heaven.\u00a0 And I also say this to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 16:15-18 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By now, Peter had seen enough to know in his spirit that Jesus was indeed the Christ.\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cFor flesh and blood has not revealed this<\/em> to you, but My Father in heaven.\u201d\u00a0 This revelation is not simply a deduction that Peter arrived at in his own mind, this was revealed to him by faith.\u00a0 Peter needed to have a genuinely spiritual relationship with the Father in order to hear from him concerning God\u2019s Son.<\/p>\n

When Peter said, \u201cYou are the Christ\u201d he acknowledged that Jesus is sent from God to deliver God\u2019s people.\u00a0 By faith, Peter came to believe that Jesus was sent by the Father with full authority and power given him by God.\u00a0 For Peter and the disciples, this meant that Jesus had power and authority over all things, including the Roman government, and that he would someday be, not only king of the Jews, but King over all, as he was sent by God.\u00a0 First, however, as far as Peter and the disciples were concerned, Jesus the Christ (the word \u2018Christ\u2019 means \u2018Messiah\u2019, and \u2018Messiah\u2019 means \u2018to redeem\u2019, \u2018to save\u2019, \u2018to deliver\u2019), would deliver the chosen people of God from under the reign of the Roman Empire and reestablish Israel as an independent state.<\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s mandate<\/span><\/h2>\n

Peter\u2019s relationship with Jesus would soon take a twist.\u00a0 Jesus began to clue his disciples in on what it would cost for him to redeem his people.\u00a0 He spoke of how he would need to go to Jerusalem and suffer a great deal at the hands of the elders and chief priests, and that ultimately he would be killed.\u00a0 Neither Peter, nor his friends, understood that the people of God extended beyond the Jews.\u00a0 They really had no comprehension that Jesus was sent to redeem\u2014or bring freedom\u2014to all mankind from the beginning to the end of time.\u00a0 They did not comprehend that Jesus was the blameless sacrifice, the price to be paid for the forgiveness of all our sin.\u00a0 Peter even argued with Jesus, suggesting that he was being a bit extreme in talking about his death.<\/p>\n

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, \u201cFar be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 16:22 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter must have been thinking, \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get real here.\u00a0 A hurricane-like storm in the midst of the waves couldn\u2019t kill you.\u00a0 In fact, you told the raging storm to shush, and it immediately became calm.\u00a0 If you can command the forces of nature, if you can heal the sick and cast out demons, how is it that the Romans or anyone can have their way with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

But He turned and said to Peter, \u201cGet behind Me, Satan!\u00a0 You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.\u201d<\/span> Matthew 16:23 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On the one hand Jesus is assuring Peter that he did hear from God, when he referred to Jesus as the Christ, but then on the other hand, Jesus told Peter that he was not focused on God by faith, but rather was relying on his own understanding.\u00a0 So which is it?\u00a0 It\u2019s both.\u00a0 We can be full of faith trusting in God, but then when the crisis hits, as we become distracted by our anxiety and apprehension, we tend to take our eyes off God to \u201cbetter\u201d focus in on our problem.\u00a0 We can get lost in our doubt and argue with God.\u00a0 \u201cEven you<\/em> can\u2019t fix this<\/em> Lord, it\u2019s so bad \u2026I mean, it is really bad this time!\u201d<\/p>\n

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.\u00a0 Therefore God also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<\/span> Philippians 2:8-11 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter, nor the rest of the disciples, really had any idea, after everything they\u2019d experienced, that Jesus would actually die at the hand of the Romans.\u00a0 Everything they had hoped and dreamed was hinging on Jesus establishing his kingdom on earth, thereby setting the Jews free once again.<\/p>\n

Followers of Jesus expected him to be the Christ.\u00a0 Not only the disciples, but thousands of people followed and supported the ministry of Jesus.\u00a0 Many gave of their possessions and resources to his ministry.\u00a0 Many were excommunicated from their families for following a man who made outrageous claims of being sent by God to be the King of the Jews.\u00a0 For Jesus to die would be to invalidate such claims.\u00a0 It would mean that those who followed him, would be made fools of by him should he die and not deliver on his promise to be their king. \u00a0The death of Jesus was simply unacceptable since it would render their independence from the Romans impossible from their point of view.<\/p>\n

Jesus calls his disciples, friends<\/span><\/h2>\n

I believe the disciples, friends of Jesus, may have had a similar mindset.\u00a0 They were not ready or willing to give up the dream.\u00a0 Again Jesus would speak from his heart about what it meant to sacrifice himself through his death.<\/p>\n

Look to these words of Jesus, spoken so eloquently to these friends who he loved.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.\u00a0 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept my Father\u2019s commandments and abide in His love.\u00a0 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.\u00a0 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.\u00a0 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay one\u2019s life down for his friends.\u00a0 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.\u00a0 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I call you My friends<\/em>, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.\u00a0 You did not choose Me, but I chose you.\u201d<\/span> John 15:9-16 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To be referred to by Jesus as a friend of his must have meant the world to these guys.\u00a0 Jesus was the Christ who would be king.\u00a0 Peter, John, James, Mary Magdalene, and friends were on the inside with Jesus.\u00a0 Together with him, the disciples would lead the Jewish people to freedom as an independent people once again.\u00a0 What a privilege it would be to serve Christ, the King of kings.\u00a0 In time they would indeed serve the King of kings, but not as they had expected.\u00a0 When Jesus entered the holy city of Jerusalem on a donkey as a peaceful king, it was as though the day of reckoning was at hand. \u00a0Jesus would restore his Jewish friends by delivering them from the hand of those brutally oppressive Romans, right?<\/p>\n

Why would Peter deny Christ?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The disciples gathered together to honor the Passover in what we affectionately refer to as \u201cThe Last Supper.\u201d\u00a0 The disciples had no idea, really, what would ensue.<\/p>\n

Jesus said that night,<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of you will be made to stumble this night because of Me, for it is written, \u2018I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.\u2019\u00a0 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.\u201d\u00a0 Peter said to Him, \u201cEven if all are made to stumble, I will not be.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus said to Peter, \u201cAssuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.\u201d\u00a0 But Peter spoke more vehemently, \u201cIf I have to die with You, I will not deny you.\u201d\u00a0 And the rest of the disciples said likewise.<\/span> Mark 14:27-31 (NKJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s denial of Christ in the temple courtyard is well-documented.\u00a0 It is written about in each of the four Gospels.\u00a0 But Peter\u2019s uncertainty about Jesus was visible and thusly written about.\u00a0 The rest of the disciples, except Peter and John, had fled the scene.<\/p>\n

Why would Peter deny Christ, his Savior?<\/p>\n