Jesus’ Patience When Peter Worries About his Sacrifice & Rewards
Let’s keep with the theme of discovering God’s character and how that is different than our parent’s or an authority figure’s character. Let’s continue to disconnect Jesus’ words from the wrong image of God and connect His words to the right and wholesome image of God.
It was a common thought in Jesus’ day, and even today, that those who are not suffering but doing well financially are “blessed” by God. It is just basic natural reasoning. In Matt 19:16-30 Jesus is visited by a rich young man. They have some interaction and at the end Jesus basically tells His disciples that riches and money can actually be a hindrance from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. The disciples and Peter are exasperated when they hear this. They are “astonished” and say, “Who then can be saved, if the rich aren’t?” (Paraphrase) Jesus indicates that God is the answer rather than human effort and money. Peter bypasses this and exclaims, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Notice the exclamation mark in the NIV text) “What then will there be for us?”
Peter is exasperated and focuses on himself. I can feel that question. Can you? “We have left EVERYTHING to follow you! What will there be for us?” I think that is a very real and raw question. Sometimes we get overwhelmed in life with all the effort it takes and we wonder, “What is in it for me? I am working hard and giving up a lot!” A strict preacher or cranky pastor might turn on Peter, “How selfish! Why are you thinking about yourself?” Have you ever had an authority figure heap condemnation on you when you were asking a raw but real question?
Fascinatingly Jesus doesn’t get in Peter’s face here. (We can debate if this is sin or just a sincere question.) Jesus doesn’t have a meltdown. Jesus isn’t frustrated. Instead Jesus is patient and basically tells Peter the future, which is instruction. Jesus tells Peter: “It is all going to be worth it!” (Paraphrase)
It is just another example of Jesus’ patience and instruction with Peter! And God is just like Jesus. If you’re used to your parents or an authority figure instantly finding fault with you… and you transfer this “image” or emotion picture onto God… think again. God is patient. It is people who are short tempered and quick to find fault. Examples of Jesus patience can reshape your image of God. Saturate in them and pray them back to Him.
Prayer: Father, the thought that you are patient and instructive rather that fault finding… is new to me. Mentally I have agreed that you are patient because the Bible says so, but emotionally I haven’t really seen or believed it. I love seeing how patient you are in Jesus! It makes me realize I don’t have to “walk on egg shells around You.” You have room for me to try to serve you and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail. You will help me in my struggles rather than just accuse me for failing. I can see that is the enemy’s way rather than yours! You are better than I thought!
