I’m thinking about the Apostle Peter today. I’m relating to Peter, more specifically. He was Jesus’ close friend; he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He was well-intentioned, but he was also brash and presumptuous. He was an external processor without a doubt, and often overestimated his own capabilities. Peter seems genuine, and unvarnished in the scriptures. I feel unvarnished today.
As I think about Peter, and mull over his many blunders, I’m trying to place myself in Peter’s shoes, and remind myself of his vantage point, and his specific moment in history. How much of Jesus’ ministry and message was completely counter-cultural to his first-century, Jewish mind?
‘Jesus, you are the Messiah! You are my Rabbi. You are honored and esteemed, not a lowly, humble servant. You will never wash my feet!’ (John 13:8)
‘Jesus, you are the Messiah! You are here to deliver God’s people from their oppressor. You will exert your power and influence to redeem your people. You won’t suffer at the hands of sinful men. You won’t be murdered like a criminal. This will never happen to you!’ (Matthew 16:22)
‘God, I have kept your laws from childhood. I have kept myself clean and pure according to your law. I have never eaten anything unclean, because I am a holy people, a recipient of your covenant.’ (Acts 10:14)
So many of Peter’s blunders seem to boil down to one simple thought: This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.
We see Jesus repeat this refrain in the gospel accounts: “The Kingdom of God has come near.” But many of Jesus’s contemporaries missed the advancing Kingdom of God. It didn’t look like anyone expected it to.
‘The Son of Man breaking bread with tax collectors and sinners? This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.’
‘Healing on the Sabbath? This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.’
‘The first shall be last? Deny yourself and take up your cross? This can’t be what God’s kingdom looks like.’
God’s Kingdom is often at odds with the kingdoms of this world. God’s kingdom often has different values and different methods than we’re used to. Sometimes God’s Kingdom is so counter-cultural, so unexpected, that it seems impossible that God could be at work in a situation at all.
So, as I think about Peter… genuine, brash, blundering Peter, who walked closely with Jesus and still missed the advance of God’s Kingdom at times, I can’t help but ask the question: Where am I blind to God’s advancing Kingdom?
Is God working right in my neighborhood, right in my house, right under my nose? Am I missing it because God’s plans and purposes don’t look like I think they should?
‘Sick kids, sleepless nights, and a never-ending to-do list? This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.’
‘A calendar full of meetings, presentations, and soul-crushing rush hour traffic? This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.’
‘A life full of longing and unfulfilled promises? A series of circumstances that leave me lamenting, “How did my life end up this way?” This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like.’
This can’t be what God’s Kingdom looks like. Or is it exactly what God’s Kingdom looks like?
The same Jesus that Peter loved, the same Jesus that restored Peter to sweet friendship, and to the good work of the gospel, this Jesus loves, leads, and restores me too. The same Holy Spirit that filled Peter to preach a fiery sermon, and draw thousands of people to faith in Jesus, this Spirit fills me too. Like Peter, I’m also well-intentioned, overextended, and unvarnished. So maybe, like Peter, I can trust God’s Kingdom to advance, confront my assumptions, and unfold beautifully despite my protests, too.
God, open my eyes to see your advancing Kingdom in my life. I don’t want to miss what you’re doing.
