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ONE evening, while making dinner, we noticed an eerie silence from the next room, where our two boys, aged four and one at the time, had been playing. Checking in, we found felt-tip-pen marks everywhere – on the walls, the chairs and even on the youngest child’s face. Yet, despite all the evidence to the contrary, our eldest confidently declared, ‘It wasn’t me!’

Today’s readings focus on denial. In the first, Peter dismisses the idea that he could ever fail Jesus. Mark’s account (14:27-31) emphasises this further – despite Jesus’ clear prediction, Peter insists that even if all the other disciples fall away, he will remain faithful. He makes a mistake which many in Christian service and leadership make: they think they are beyond the failures that others may be prone to. Yet, as the second reading shows, Peter’s denial unfolds exactly as Jesus foretold. In distancing himself from Christ, he not only fails his friend but also rejects the cost of true discipleship.

Like Peter, we may sometimes overestimate our own strength and underestimate our need for God’s grace. When we do fail – whether in our words, actions or even in our silence – it is easy to feel ashamed or unworthy. We need to own our failures and our frailties. What we do see, however, is that this is precisely the thing that makes God’s love so incredible: God still chooses to use us in his mission, despite the inevitability of our failures. So today, let us come to God with honesty, knowing that even in our weakness his grace is sufficient, his love is unwavering and his purpose for us remains.

PONDER

Though you have failed him, and how you’ve failed him!

Though you have failed him, God loves you;
The proof is Jesus, so look at Jesus,
And learn from Jesus God loves you.
— John Gowans (SASB 439 v 3)

REMBRANDT’S 1642 masterpiece The Night Watch, displayed in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, has a dramatic history. In 1911, an attempt was made to slash it with a shoemaker’s knife. In 1975, it was vandalised with a bread knife. In 1990, it was sprayed with acid. What do you think its owners did each time? Asking Rembrandt to paint another was impossible, and its value made discarding it unthinkable. Instead, after each attack, the painting was painstakingly restored – because things of great significance are worth restoring. This is perhaps why Jesus meets Peter on a beach towards the end of John’s Gospel. Despite Peter’s failure, Jesus doesn’t reject or replace him. He doesn’t try to look for a new rock on which to build his Church. Instead, Jesus seeks Peter out. Notably, Jesus meets Peter by ‘a fire of burning coals’ (v 9), or anthrakia – a word used only once more in the New Testament, earlier, in John 18:18, when Peter denies Jesus by a fire of burning coals. Jesus intentionally meets Peter at his place of failure, demonstrating his deep love and desire to restore him. Jesus makes it clear that his love for Peter is great, and that Peter is of great value. Jesus, however, also seeks a response: ‘Do you love me?’ he asks three times. This repeated question isn’t to shame Peter but to restore him. After each of Peter’s responses, Jesus calls him back to his purpose: ‘Feed my lambs’ (v 15), ‘Take care of my sheep’ (v 16) and ‘Feed my sheep’ (v 17). This is at the heart of Christian living – accepting God’s grace and stepping back into his purpose. Jesus meets us in our failure – not to discard us, but to demonstrate his love and to restore us.

PONDER

Lord, you know that we fail you;
Our sins, how sorely they grieve you!
Many times have we fallen, Lord, lift us up again.
May we walk to be worthy of the call that is ours,
May your will and your purpose
Claim our undivided powers!
— Howard Davies (SASB 506 v 2)

HAVING been gloriously restored, Peter makes another mistake that is common among followers of Jesus – he looks over his shoulder. In doing so, he becomes insecure and distracted. Jesus’ response is direct: ‘. ..what is that to you? You must follow me’ (v 22). It’s a call that echoes through time – we must not be preoccupied with others, but take responsibility for our own discipleship and stay focused on following Jesus.

Losing focus and neglecting the legacy of love we’re called to leave was something an early Salvation Army leader, Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle, warned of nearly a century ago. When asked about the Army’s future, he acknowledged that its organisation was strong and unlikely to perish, but he issued a stark warning:

‘Love is the life of The Army. … But if love leaks out we shall lose our crown, we shall have a name to live and yet be dead. We may still house the homeless, dole out food to the hungry, punctiliously perform our routine work, but the mighty ministry of the Spirit will no longer be our glory. Our musicians will play meticulously, our Songsters will revel in the artistry of song that tickles the ear, but leaves the heart cold and hard. Our Officers will make broad their phylacteries and hob-nob with mayors and councilmen and be greeted in the market-place, but God will not be among us. … If the future of The Salvation Army is to still be glorious, we must heed the exhortation: “Let brotherly love continue.”’ 7

The greatest legacy we, as individuals and as The Salvation Army, can leave the world is one of love. The fuel that drives us forward is love – as Paul writes, ‘Christ’s love compels us’ (2 Corinthians 5:14). We must keep that as our focus and refuse to be distracted by comparison or routine. May our lives and legacy be defined by Spirit-filled, Christ-centred love.

PONDER

How can I ensure that love does not ‘leak out’ of my life and my work for God?

THE whole town is terrorised by a black-hearted villain and his unpleasant sidekicks. The last three law enforcers have been run out of town. The honest citizens try to employ a professional gunslinger, who turns out to be a drunken coward. The baddies become even more threatening and demanding. A lone shopkeeper speaks out against the gang and receives a beating for his trouble. His wife pleads with him to stop before something else happens. He refuses on principle, and broken-hearted she leaves on the next stagecoach. Now it’s just the shopkeeper against the whole gang. 

In the blazing sun he steps out… 

It’s the stuff of a dozen ‘Western’ films. Will the townsfolk join him? Will the drunken gunslinger sober up and protect them? Will he survive? Will his wife return? Who else may suddenly turn up? Will law and order be finally established? Who knows…? 

It all seems so easy watching the drama played out on the silver screen; the day-to-day business of upholding principles is a lot harder, especially if one feels alone and unsupported. 

Jesus, who knew what it was like to stand alone against hostility from various sources, told his followers that they too would one day face opposition. 

We may physically be on our own, but when we stand our ground on godly principles, the truth stands with us. When Rosa Parks, an African- American, courageously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger she knew there would be consequences. And there were; she was arrested. Peaceful demonstrations and protests by civil rights groups were met with violence from the authorities and more arrests. But eventually change came. 

‘Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. King walked so Jesse Jackson could stand. Jackson stood so that Obama could run. Obama’s running so we all can fly.’8 

Who knows who might be influenced for good when they see us speaking and acting for right?

THE world has had its share of political leaders, good and bad. Some have inspired courage, like Mahatma Gandhi, who led by his example of resilience, knowledge, people skills and motivational approach, and policy of non-violent protest through civil disobedience.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the USA, showed great determination, persistence and courage by ending slavery and leading the nation during the American Civil War. Confucius in China taught how to cultivate the value of modesty, planning, respect, moral behaviour, honesty and sincerity. He said that true happiness comes from helping others.

Others have initiated and allowed evil acts of terrible proportions. Lenin and Stalin were responsible for millions of deaths in their various purges. Hitler condemned millions to a dreadful death.

The world has also seen religious leaders, good and bad. Sadly, there have been some religious leaders who have made enormous demands of their followers, but not themselves lived by the standards they have imposed on others. Others have abused their revered position, or succumbed to temptation or corruption.

A few religious leaders have even declared themselves gods, or prophets through whom God has spoken to the world. Those who dared describe themselves on a level with the Almighty have been discredited with ease – except for one man, Jesus Christ.

Here is a leader who changed the world for good. His self-sacrifice has inspired his followers over the centuries to perform wonderful acts of kindness. They have founded hospitals and schools, run hospices and leprosariums, campaigned for better working conditions for people, helped abolish slavery and pioneered numerous actions for the good of humankind. It’s true that some misguided followers have done shameful and terrible things allegedly in the name of Jesus, but the vast majority have enriched the world by their living influenced by their leader.

Let’s do what we can today to listen to Jesus and follow his example.