Join us as we read the scriptures and a daily devotion written by Don Crisp. We pray these messages will bless us all at this time.
Day 6 – John 13 : 36-38
Categories: Don’s Daily Devotions
Read John 13:36-38
Just three verses, but how challenging they are.
V36-37: Simon Peter, so often confident – over confident -in his own strength and ability, refuses to accept that he can’t go with Jesus. He declares he is ready and willing to lay down his life for him, if need be. And Simon means it – his heart is sincere, I don’t doubt – but he is relying on his own human strength and courage. He can do it – he will never let Jesus down!
How easily we can fall back into relying on our own strength, our own ability. How often we think ourselves “sufficient”. We must realise and accept our weakness, our frailty – perhaps this present time is teaching us that. The OT teaches it too – Zechariah 4:6. – The NT reinforces it in many places – (e.g. 2 Corinthians 3:5, 4:7) and in the example of Simon Peter here.
V38: Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times this very night. He who has claimed, and yes, boasted, so much will fall so low. (See John 18:15-18, 25-27). But let us not judge and criticise Peter, but recognise our own weakness and our need of the strength and steadfastness which only God’s grace can give us. Peter will be forgiven and restored by that grace, and afterwards will serve his Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit, not his own.
Let us end this chapter, reflecting on the words of 1Corinthians 10:12 – “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed, lest he fall”. Truly, our sufficiency is, and can only be, from God alone.