Honesty Opens the Door
We can learn by others’ stories. Which is why testimony is important. The stories in the Bible are testimonies for us to learn from. Let’s go through Peter’s story leading up to why he was walking with John to the temple in Acts 3. If you don’t know this Peter is 30 and John is 17 at the time they were walking to the temple. It is odd for that age group to be “hanging out” together.
We’ll start in Matthew where we read last week about Jesus asking His disciples who they say He is. Peter was the first disciple to confess who Jesus really is - the Christ, the Anointed One. Jesus made it plain to Peter and all of the other disciples that Peter heard the voice of the Father for himself. He was the first disciple to do this. Oh, I am sure he was so proud of himself knowing Peter’s personality. A bit later they find themselves in the upper room getting ready to have their last supper together when Jesus - the Christ - Anointed One begins to wash the disciples’ feet. Peter was bold in telling Jesus you will not wash my feet. He even rebuked Jesus to his face when Jesus told them he would be arrested and killed. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to Jesus. He was even so bold to say; I will give my life, so you don’t have to. Fast forward to the garden with Jesus when the soldiers came to arrest Him Peter pulls out his sword to cut a man’s ear off. He was ready to fight for Jesus.
On the other side of Jesus’ arrest Peter denies even knowing Him three different times. How after all these bold declarations and getting the revelation right from the mouth of Yahweh could you crumble so easily in the face of adversity? Peter was devastated at his actions but still could not find the strength and courage to be at the cross in support of Jesus in his hardest time. Peter thought all was lost. He even went back to fishing. But I believe this is when the questions started in his mind. The honesty in his own heart. He began to realize all the way on the other side of the resurrection there was one who remained. This one made it all the way from his calling to the foot of the cross. I am sure Peter was thinking why did he not run and hide like the rest of us men? He’s a boy. Why was he not afraid for his life. What does he have that I do not?
We must find ourselves in a place where when we see someone who has something we don’t have - we draw closer to them. We should never get jealous or pull away in disappointment or anger. In order to become like someone, we must get closer to them. Don’t we want to love like Jesus, do what Jesus says we can do, wouldn’t we all want to reach out and pull someone from a wheelchair and see them walk?
Peter became brave enough to acknowledge he didn’t have what John the beloved had. He realized confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart is not enough to see change and to be that change. Family, we cannot stop at confession. We have been learning the Kingdom starts with honesty. If we can’t be honest with ourselves and Jesus, we will not be able to do what He says we can.
Peter realizes the only way he could have what John the beloved had was to be with him to see how he walked this life out. This is why Peter chose to walk with John to the temple. This is why you see a 30-year-old man walking with the 17-year-old. He needed to inherit what John was carrying. Think about this…just by Peter walking with Beloved identity HE was the one who reached out his hand to the crippled man to pull him up. I imagine in the past when he went to the temple without John he walked past the crippled man because he knew he didn’t have what the man needed. It was only when walking with beloved could he move in resurrection power.
Spend some time today with Jesus being honest about where you are. He is not afraid of what you will say. Truth is He already knows; the honesty is for us to open ourselves up to the grace needed to walk in beloved identity.
Where are you in your walk but more importantly where do you want to go?
