Today’s author is Prince of Peace member and Music Coordinator, Milt Warkentien.
I’ve always felt a bit sad for Peter. He’s called the rock, but not long after Jesus gave the disciples the new commandment to love one as Jesus had loved them (John 13: 34-35), and Peter had declared his loyalty to Jesus, Peter first acts with violence, cutting the ear off of a high priest’s servant, and then he then denies Jesus 3 times, just as Jesus said he would.
I can’t imagine the anguish Peter was feeling when the rooster crowed. Peter denied being the disciple of his friend and teacher. All of Peter’s bold talk had now vanished and Peter couldn’t even see Jesus to ask for forgiveness.
I hate to think how many times I’ve acted like Peter and turned from Jesus’s teachings, in some way or another. Why is it so hard to follow the teachings of Jesus when it seems pretty simple on the surface? We’re just asked to love one another! Why does following what the “world” wants from us come easier than loving one another as Jesus asks us to do?
On Sunday, March 1st, we sang ELW 325 as the opening hymn. I can imagine Peter singing something like this after he had denied being a disciple and Jesus had been taken away.
Lord: give us the strength we need to combat the world and follow you. Forgive us when we stumble, and help us remember that nothing we do can turn your love away from us. Help us to live with your love in our hearts. Amen
I leave you with the recording of “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”, from March 1st and I pray that Jesus is always walking with you.