P6 Miracles | Peter, a Sword & an Ear

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When Faith Falters: Learning from Peter's Journey
In our spiritual journey, we all experience moments when our faith is tested. Even the most devoted followers of Jesus have had times when their faith faltered. From Abraham to Moses to David, history shows us that godly people sometimes face crises of faith. One of the most powerful examples comes from Peter, one of Jesus' most loyal disciples.

Who was Peter before his faith faltered?
Peter was all-in for Jesus. He was the disciple who jumped out of a boat to walk on water with Jesus. He boldly declared, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will." Peter even proclaimed he would go to prison or die for Jesus if necessary. His commitment seemed unshakable—until it wasn't.

The last miracle Jesus performed before His crucifixion became a pivotal moment that derailed Peter's faith.

What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?
The night before Jesus' crucifixion, after celebrating the Passover meal and instituting the Lord's Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. While Jesus prayed, the disciples fell asleep. Suddenly, a crowd approached, led by Judas who betrayed Jesus with a kiss.


When the disciples realized what was happening, they asked Jesus if they should fight. Before Jesus could answer, Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus immediately rebuked Peter, saying, "No more of this." Then Jesus performed His final pre-crucifixion miracle—He touched the man's ear and healed it.


How did Peter's faith fail?
After Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest's house, Peter followed at a distance. As he sat by a fire in the courtyard, three different people recognized him as one of Jesus' followers. Each time, Peter denied knowing Jesus. After the third denial, a rooster crowed, and Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter. Remembering Jesus' prediction that he would deny Him three times, Peter went outside and wept bitterly.


In just a few hours, Peter went from being ready to fight 600 soldiers single-handedly to cowering before a servant girl around a campfire. How does such strong faith falter so quickly?


Why do believers sometimes experience a crisis of faith?
Presuming on God's power
Peter knew Jesus was the Son of God. He had witnessed Jesus' miracles and power. When 600 Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter thought, "We've got them right where we want them." He presumed on God's power, believing that because Jesus could do anything, He would do what Peter wanted.


This is a common mistake believers make. We believe God is both good and great, so we assume He will use His power according to our preferences. But resilient faith recognizes that God's power serves His plan and purposes, not necessarily ours.


Like a running back who must follow his offensive line's blocks rather than running in his own direction, we must align ourselves with God's plan rather than expecting Him to adjust to ours. God's power always points in the direction of His purposes.


Unwillingness to yield our will to God's
Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah. He had even declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus affirmed this confession, saying He would build His church upon it.


Yet when Jesus began explaining that He must suffer and die, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him: "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" Jesus responded sharply: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."


Peter knew what he wanted, but he wasn't willing to embrace what God wanted. If Peter had gotten his way in the garden—if he had successfully prevented Jesus' arrest—Jesus would not have been crucified or resurrected, and we would still be in our sins.


Resilient faith trusts what we cannot see. As Scripture says, "We live by faith, not by sight." Sometimes our circumstances can be so overwhelming that they consume our field of vision, preventing us from seeing God's eternal plan unfolding.


Is failure the end of our faith journey?
The most encouraging part of Peter's story is that his failure wasn't fatal. It was devastating, but it didn't end him. Less than two months after his colossal failure, Peter stood on the day of Pentecost and preached with such power that 3,000 people gave their lives to Christ. He went on to become a pillar in the early church and wrote portions of the New Testament.


Peter's mistakes were great, but God's grace was greater. After the resurrection, when the women found Jesus' tomb empty, the angel specifically mentioned Peter: "Go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you into Galilee." Jesus wanted to make sure Peter knew they had unfinished business.


Later, on the shores of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Each time Peter affirmed his love, and Jesus reaffirmed Peter's mission: "Feed my sheep." Peter would go on to change the world.


What does Peter's story teach us about God's grace?
God pursues and uses broken people. We're sometimes tempted to allow past failures to disqualify us from kingdom work. But whatever we've done to offend God, Jesus has done far more to appease God's wrath toward us. As Paul wrote, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more."


Our sin can never outpace God's grace. If your faith has faltered and failed, you are not unlike anyone God has used for great kingdom work. One of the most mind-boggling truths in human history is that God invites broken people to be part of His plan.


Life Application
God's grace is greater than our failures. This week, consider these questions:

In what areas of your life are you presuming on God's power, expecting Him to follow your plan rather than aligning yourself with His?

Where are you struggling to yield your will to God's will? What desires or plans are you holding onto that might be at odds with God's purposes?

How have past failures made you feel disqualified from serving God? How might embracing God's grace change your perspective?

Who in your life needs to hear that their failures aren't fatal—that God's grace is greater than their mistakes?


Remember Peter's journey from failure to faithful service. If God could use Peter after such a public denial, He can certainly use you despite your failures. This week, take one step toward embracing God's grace and returning to His purpose for your life.