Peter.

At Bible study a while back, the topic turned to Peter.  He shows up all over the place and is such a fascinating character.  the particular incident we were reading about was in Galatians where Peter lives and eats with and interacts with the Gentiles, but the moment the Jews show up, he becomes aloof and pulls away from the Gentiles for fear of what the Jews would say about him. 

Paul totally calls him out.  

I got really frustrated with Peter right then.  I mean, c'mon!  The guy has been through so much...hasn't he learned already?  Besides, he is supposed to be this pillar of the early Christian church.  Really well known, Really admirable, and right about then I wasn't admiring him too much...

Look, he was a disciple of Jesus.  A lowly fisherman CHOSEN by Jesus.  

When Jesus asks who people say that he is, and who Peter says that he is, he responds that Jesus is the Christ.  And Jesus is pleased with that and calls peter the Rock on which the church will be built! 

Then he has all these ordeals where he walks on water, but doubts and looks down. 

There's that question about how many times someone should forgive someone else. 

Peter saw Jesus' transfiguration!  

Jesus was trying to explain his death and resurrection, and Peter kept insisting it wouldn't happen that way...it couldn't. 

Then there's the last supper where he refuses to have Jesus wash his feet...but then after hearing Jesus' explanation, overcompensates and tells him to wash more of his body!  

Not even 24 hours later, he cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant in the garden of Gethsemane.  

After that, he denies he even knew Jesus...THREE times. 

Jesus commands him to feed sheep...also multiple times. 

He gets thrown in prison.  

then he gets miraculously rescued. 

he begins ministry, fulfilling the great commission.

...and then this story. 

HOW COULD PETER NOT KNOW BY NOW!  how was he so impulsive?  he just spoke and acted before thinking.  He was so easily swayed by fear of what others would think.  He was supposedly big and strong, but he was really timid and weak.  He was all over the place.  One minute he was the most dedicated and committed follower. The next, he was doubting and saying things he didn't mean or just plain had no idea what he was talking about.  

And then it hit me.  I am like Peter.  I don't get it sometimes.  I have experienced all of these things with God...and I still am fearful.  I still doubt. I still blunder through things and say dumb stuff.  Peter wasn't perfect.  But he had a raw desire to follow Jesus. 

It was Peter's cross to bear, this fear of man and doubt and impulsiveness.   The Enemy was using every chance he had to bring Peter down...and somehow Peter came out the other end.  God had his back, even when he made a fool of himself. 

That gives me hope.  

Peter is one of those guys I want to find in heaven and just sit down and have a chat with.  Compare notes. Laugh at how ridiculous we both were.  And then go thank God together that he redeemed and loved us anyway.