The Perfect Jealousy of Peter

From today’s reading…

I’m no expert, but I think Peter was jealous of “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (v20).

Peter wanted to elevate himself and knock down John as he dug for some dirt and some gossip to figure out who would betray Jesus.

We know Peter was just a regular guy like the rest of us.

He was vain—he thought he could walk on water (he wasn’t wrong)—over-confident—“‘Even if all fall away from you, I will never fall away.’” (Matthew 26:33)—and aggressive—“Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus” (John 18:10).

Peter got tired and frustrated—“Simon replied, ‘Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets’” (Luke 5:5).

He was weak in his prayer life—“He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to stay awake one hour?’” (Mark 14:37)

Finally, Peter was impetuous and not the most contemplative when it came to understanding Jesus and all that was happening, i.e., in Matthew 17:4 where he wanted to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

But Peter had faith.

He was a man of action.

And he loved Jesus, which made him perfect for the role Jesus had for him. 

So be perfectly imperfect like Peter.

It’s the only way to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.

Now go sell something.