I love Simon Peter! I feel like he is a disciple I can relate to. In fact, just this week I had to consider how much like Peter I am, in certain circumstances. Known to be somewhat impulsive and prone to giving way to feelings, I sympathize. When revelation and action are not quite in sync, I need time to either catch up or slow down. Peter moves through cycles of fascination, frustration and faith – so do I.
Peter answered the call of Christ to “Follow Me” along with his brother Andrew and their friend. The statement “I will make you fishers of men” hooked the fishermen with intrigue. Without explanation of a plan or cost, the invitation to adventure wrapped around expanding their world was too much to pass up. The camaraderie and promise to make them better at what they already knew was beyond exciting. Their answer was immediate and public.
Count me in when an invitation comes to experience the adventure of a lifetime and a lifetime of adventure! Fascination lends to spontaneity without consideration of the cost, especially with a little bit of peer pressure added. I realize some people would automatically count themselves out with this lack of agenda, but then – no guts no glory. We are wired for creativity, exploration and adventure because we are created in His image.
Fascination will only take someone so far down the road of following. It may be the beginning of a journey, but it will fizzle and fade when the cost of discipleship is realized and faith is required. Peter is a fine example. Perhaps fascination was still in place when he asked Jesus to call him out onto the water! What an adventure! However, Pete started to sink at the point where faith was needed. Fascination will not suffice when faith is needed. Fascination doesn’t float.
Familiar Frustration
Peter followed Christ long enough to become comfortable with the process. Quite possibly Peter thought he had finally figured out the whole disciple thing. No longer was it just a joy ride, the disciples knew the cost associated with following. But the experience was well worth the price they were paying.
During their three years together, the miraculous became the norm. It was no longer jaw dropping, take your breath away, mere moments of rare supernatural events. After all, Jesus was with them and He had personally selected them to follow Him, be a part of His ministry team, and participate in the supernatural adventure of a lifetime.
It is said that “familiarity breeds contempt”, but I think that is too harsh here. It is obvious in Peter’s story that familiarity led to frustration. He had become one of the top three guys, walked on water, by revelation proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God, and had been on the Mount of Transfiguration.
If any of the disciples had it all figured out, it had to be Peter. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church”. Peter was developing blueprints for three temples on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was working on a proposal so that Jesus would not have to die but still be the Messiah. He was in “figure it out overdrive”, right up until Jesus told him, “Get behind me Satan, your mind is set on worldly things”.
Frustration overload! Proclaimed to be “the Rock” by revelation of supernatural knowledge, now identified with Satan… because of setting his mind in the wrong place! (Where we set our mind is of great importance because it determines where we are standing and in what direction we are moving.) The positional statement of Christ to Peter is to recalculate the route. In “Siri speak” it would sound like, “Recalculating, you’ve gone too far.” OR “U-turn, return to route.”
Peter’s thinking process, figuring it out, took him too far and repositioning was necessary. The CHV* (*Carolyn Hunt Version) reads like this “Pete – You are in front of Me, I can’t lead you from back here. My call to you was and always will be “Follow Me”. My ways are higher than yours, and for all your efforts to figure this life out, I still have the words of life that I’m unwilling to yell at you from behind. I will not trip up over you, Friend.”
Peter dusts himself off, recalculates the route and falls in line following Jesus through the Garden of Gethsemane, right up to the courtyard of denial. Fascination dulled, familiar frustration blindsided, and faltering faith. Peter wept when Jesus, looking back, caught his eye in the firelight of the courtyard.
Faithful Following
Thankfully this is not the end of Peter’s story! Peter is the one who jumps from the boat upon seeing Jesus on the beach after the resurrection. On the beach Jesus engaged Peter in a face-to-face conversation and asked just one question, three times, “Do you love Me?” To Peter’s repetitive response of “Yes, You know I do” Jesus responded “Follow Me.” Now Peter has the opportunity to respond to a renewed call, to make an informed decision, count the cost, while fully aware of expectations. Yet Peter has one more question – “What about him?” (John 21)
Jesus’ response to Peter is the same to all of us – it doesn’t matter about anyone else – You Follow Me!
What about me?
I find myself in this loop more often than I want to admit. The pendulum swings wide between impulsive actions fueled by emotions and being paralyzed by over-thinking. Finding balance and stability between fascination and faithful follower, with frustration sandwiched in-between, is no small task. I cannot consider Peter’s actions and declarations without also finding myself in the narrative.
- Yes! I want to follow Christ into a life of miraculous adventure.
- Yes! It is more fun when my friends follow along with me.
- Yes! I have experienced God’s revelation of spiritual truth.
- Yes! I think I have it figured out and get out in front of God’s plan.
- Yes! I get frustrated when timing is beyond my control.
- Yes! I love the Lord!
- Yes! I tend to look at others’ relationship with Jesus and compare myself.
Fascination often prompts people to make public confessions of acceptance of Christ. The promise of heaven without consideration of the cost is attractive to the masses. Without mention of repentance, transformation, sacrifice, and the allure of eternal security, some have received only a portion of the good news of Christ. Fascination-driven following without the power of transformation toward a life of faith, will fade over time. It becomes necessary to chase the next thrill, revival, or revelation to keep the fascination fresh.
When the sparkle dims, the delight of following can seem dutiful. When I think I have the daily devoted times figured out and they seem slow, I am tempted to run into familiar territory. I want to follow; I answered the call to follow. But, I can get out in front before I even realize it!
Here’s the truth – I can’t follow someone that is behind me. Believe me, I’ve tried. Constantly looking in the rear-view mirror to see if perhaps they have turned on a blinker to indicate I need to make a turn. Want to know how that turns out? GPS and Siri can’t help me with this!
It is equally impossible to lead from behind as it is to follow from in front. Jesus doesn’t lead from behind, that’s pushing. Jesus responds with restoration, reroutes our efforts and renews the call to follow. When we have come to the end of ourselves, like Peter in the courtyard, there is still hope!
Jesus will turn His face and ask the same question, “Do you love Me?”
In the journey of following Jesus, we can also walk alongside, keeping in stride with the One who loves us. Responding to the very whisper of Holy Spirit within, Who makes us aware of pitfalls and potholes so that we arrive at the desired destination in due season.
The call still echoes “Do you love Me? Follow Me.” We can get beyond fascination, familiarity and frustration and move forward in faith! Knowing the cost, aware of the expectations, submitting to transformation, my answer to the call is Yes!
Questions I ask myself:
- Has the fascination of adventuring with Christ led me to a mature faith for the journey?
- Am I still trying to figure out my own plan instead of trusting Jesus to lead me? Am I running ahead or lagging behind in any area?
- Am I frustrated with timing, issues of control, or unmet expectations?
- What fears are causing me to miss out on the adventure of the journey with Jesus? Do I need to re-route?
- How can I quit the “comparison games” and become confident in my own path?
- What does it take to get unstuck from frustration and renew the fascination of being a faithful follower of Christ?
Prayer:
Lord, You know my heart wants to quickly answer “Yes!” to Your call to “Follow Me”, and yet sometimes I hesitate. Forgive my attempts to rush ahead of You and the times I lag far behind. Help me recognize Your voice of instruction and encouragement. Strengthen my courage to walk alongside and trust Your timing. To a lifetime of adventure in response to Your call to “Follow Me”, may my life be lived in obedience, humility and faith. Always YES!
Scriptures Referenced:
- Matthew 4:19-20
- Matthew 14:28-31
- Matthew 16:16-23
- Luke 22:61-62
- John 21:15-22
Until next time…
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