Among other things that makes grace amazing is how it works in two ways.
First it helps us when we fall and secondly it helps us to give us what we need to not fall in the first place.
One of the expressions of this grace is to give us heartfelt experiences of others who have recovered having fallen. Those experiences when heeded form the godly wisdom that keeps us on the straight and narrow, especially when there are forces that want to veer us off track.
The last 36 hours of the life of Jesus before His crucifixion highlights a lot about the propensity of people to fail. Those closest to Jesus got the opportunity to spend a special meal with Him. It was special because of its significance for the people of Israel. It would also turn out to be special for humanity.
Yet at this very time of significance, those who had heard Him and seen Him declare and demonstrate the world-changing nature of the Kingdom, still missed it. From querying as to who could possibly be the one to betray Jesus, later the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest. as though they had not paid attention to the amazing faith of a centurion, or a woman with the long issue of blood, or other examples of those in the least likely places, being recognised by Jesus as perfect for the Kingdom. They clearly forgot His strong words about humility rather than exalting self.
Greatness was never about a high and vaunted opinion of yourself. Jesus showed time and again that greatness was always about the capacity and activation of service.
Then we came to a word for Peter,
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
There are many fascinating aspects of what Jesus says. First of all Satan asking who? It’s as if Satan cannot get to Peter without getting permission. Then there’s the aspect of Satan getting that permission, but Jesus interceding to ensure that Satan’s efforts would come to nothing. Those are fascinating issue to consider in themselves.
The issue for me on this statement of Jesus, is how He is keen for Peter to use his experience on his return to strengthen his brothers. It talks of Jesus recovering those who have fallen, it speaks of hope that even in following Him although we might fall from time to time, it’s never too late to repent and return to Him. It speaks of us using experiences of His amazing redemptive power to let others know they too can be recovered. Indeed they don’t have to fall in the first place if they keep a humble attitude to the Lord Jesus.
Considering the significant role that Peter would take in the life of the early church, much hope is to be gained from this promise of recovery.
If we really want to be considered great in the Kingdom, perhaps our own humble commitment to service will also see us reaching out to others. Reaching out to those who may have fallen to share our stories of His power to recover. Reaching out to those who are yet to fall and plead with them to beware the efforts of the adversary to take us off the track.
That’s what’s so amazing about grace – when we recover we can be in the best position to help others recover.
(Photo by Ümit Bulut on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 