Over-Inflated Faith (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.”-Mark 14:27-31

I love Peter’s passion in this passage as he declares his undying loyalty to Jesus;  professing that he would never desert Jesus and would ultimately die with Him if it would come to that. This didn’t come from a man who had recently began following the Lord, Peter had walked with Jesus day in and day out for 3 years. He had sit at Jesus’ feet and been discipled by Him. He had heard Jesus teachings to the multitudes  and witnessed first hand the miracles that we only read about. He had hosted Jesus in His home and watched Him heal His mother-in-law. Jesus included him in His inner circle of three and declared before all the other disciples that he would be intricately involved in establishing the church. Peter had an intimate knowledge of Christ based on an intimate relationship with Him. So Peter’s proclamation of faith was not necessarily misguided. However, it was certainly over-inflated.

Let’s be honest, probably everyone of us, if we had been there that day would have responded and vowed the same as each of the others. But are we as committed to Christ as we think we are or have convinced ourselves that we are? Or have we over-inflated our faith? The funny thing is, Jesus tried to caution Peter not to “over-inflate” his faith:

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter-this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”-Mark 14:30

Jesus’ response to Peter’s proclamation was basically this: “Die with me? Before the night’s out you will have denied simply knowing me!”

Jesus then proceeds to the Mt. Olives with His disciples.

“They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”-Mark 14:32-34

           

Jesus goes off to pray and in verse 37 returns to His disciples- “Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”-Mark 14:37-38

Those words that Peter professed earlier must have seemed pretty hollow at this moment. Peter had emphatically declared that He would follow Jesus anywhere…even to death. Yet, he was unable or unwilling to stay awake and pray for even an hour!

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church