“Peter answered him, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’” – Matthew 26:33
Peter had the same sort of brash resolve that many of us can have when things are safe. He could talk a good game, just as we can sometimes talk a good game, whether in public or just to ourselves. He wanted to sound good and impress Jesus with his courageous words. Sometimes we can do the same. However, Jesus knew that Peter’s courage would crumble the moment the crisis came. There was no real courage behind Peter’s brave words.
This wasn’t surprising. After all, Peter had not yet witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus. As far as he knew, death was still the end. Peter didn’t yet understand the truth of Christ’s eternal Kingdom, so he focused on surviving in the here and now. And Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit. So, of course, Peter’s courage crumbled when faced with the prospect of his own arrest and suffering.
Nonetheless, on the other side of the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit, Peter became genuinely courageous. He didn’t have to say brave things because he lived a courageous life. Everything changed for Peter because he understand what was real, what was eternal, and what was genuinely important.
If you’re a believer in Jesus, you have all the things Peter had. You know about the Resurrection and your forever future in Christ. You have the Holy Spirit. The question is whether you’ve taken these truths to heart so that you will live with the boldness the Spirit can give you. How is your courage? Is it mostly words or a way of life? Regularly meditate on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Contemplate what that means for your present and future life. Reflect on your eternal inheritance in Heaven. Nurture, rather than quench, the Holy Spirit Who lives in you. Let Him fill you with the courage and boldness to #FollowJesus wherever He leads.