Saturday, May 7, 2022
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
From now on I will make you fishers of men        Â
Peter, at the end of his life, sits in jail.
He will be executed soon, crucified upside down as he had asked.
As Jesus told him, there were people leading him where he did not want to go.
But Peter was no longer in any hurry to “go” anywhere. In fact he had felt no hurry ever since Jesus fed him and his friends along the shore that early morning so long ago. He could remember the ambition that drove him when he was young, but no more. Not the same. He watched Jesus do the work of ten men, a hundred men … do God’s work … and Jesus never rushed anywhere.
Peter leaned back against the stone wall. A torch lit the room. Other men sometimes turned their faces toward Peter, knowing who he was. Peter smiled at them. Peter prayed with them. Peter loved them.
Peter closed his eyes.
Jesus said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” And then many of his disciples returned to their former way of life.
Peter heard their murmuring voices, Peter saw the dust fly behind their sandals, and he thought how disappointed Jesus looked, and how his eyes seemed to set in his face like stones polished by the setting sun. Jesus looked at his disciples.
Do you also want to leave?
Where did Peter get the words? He knew exactly what to say. With that Jesus’ face relaxed, and they began to walk away together.
Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe, and we are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.
A jailer brought them bread and fish. Of course, again the bread and fish. But Peter received his portion with gladness, and gave part of it to a much younger man, who was very hungry.
Peter passed through every region. He found a man named Aeneas, paralyzed and confined to bed for eight years. And Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.”
John Wimber told us fellow Vineyardites, “Don’t say you can’t heal people until you’ve prayed for 100 people, out loud, in their presence.”
Peter went to Joppa, and they took him upstairs where widows were all weeping for their friend Dorcas, who had died. He sent them all out, knelt and prayed. Then Peter turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” He gave her his hand and raised her up.
Peter learned to let Jesus do God’s work through him. John Wimber wanted us to do the same. He reminded us of John 14:12, that we would do works greater than those Jesus did. Peter was there. He heard Jesus say those words. How could he believe them, sinner and denier that he was? How could we?
Not the point, and Peter figured that out. Jesus just needed him to have the courage to open his mouth. From there, life would flow.
And oh, how it flowed!
The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria was at peace. She was being built up and walked with a deep sense of reverence for God, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.
Peter finished his food, closed his eyes, and slept. He had more than enough.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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