Peter

Peter is an enigma. Brash and boisterous, he constantly needs correction. Yet, he is the one to first recognize the Messiah, confessing him earlier than anyone else. He remains the only person other than Christ himself to walk on water. Yes, I am aware he began to sink; but that is the very essence of Peter. At once, he was bold enough to ask of the Lord to walk on water, and frail enough to sink like most of us would. Peter is an enigma.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines an “enigma” as something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely. That covers it nicely and succinctly wraps up Peter.  Brash enough to tell his Lord that he will never have to suffer (and called Satan for his efforts), yet bold enough to  proclaim Christ successfully to thousands on Pentecost. Healing as many as could even touch his shadow, yet shrinking back before Pharisees, afraid to proclaim the gospel, needing the condemnation of Paul in one of the most embarrassing confrontations of Acts. 

Yet, did Peter hold it against Paul? Evidently not, for Peter himself, in his last epistle declares Paul’s writings to be holy scriptures, providing a strong passage on the inspiration of the New Testament. Our Lord called him the Rock, and he endeavored to be that for the sake of others, but there were so many times he failed. I wonder if he came to see it as I have. He was the Rock, in paving the way to Jesus through confession. All other Christians were to follow his confession of Christ. He further was the Rock, of a foundational sort, the Rock which Jesus used to begin building his church. But in leadership, not so much. The church raised up many others to lead the church, overlooking Peter each time, to choose others to lead.

I think that is why I most love this picture of Peter. I am like Peter; uneven in much of my life. One moment standing tall like a rock for Jesus; the next moment becoming embarrassed or forgetful about what I am supposed to do. Uneven. But we have to look a long time to find another to whom Christ expressed his love and blessing to. I am a bit like Peter. Uneven. But loved by Christ dearly. And that is not so bad!