Peter’s “Nevers”

by David Gibson

I believe it was in his film series “Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong,” or perhaps in the Brecheen-Faulkner Marriage Enrichment series, Paul Faulkner observed that “Peter was given to ‘never’ statements.”

Four examples

• When Jesus first predicted his death at the hands of the Jewish leaders, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you’” (Matthew 16:22).
• When Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter objected, “You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8).
• When Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him, Peter responded, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:35).
• When Peter saw the vision of unclean animals, and God told him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat,” he protested, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (Acts 10:13-14).

Here is an oxymoron. As another preacher said, we cannot call Jesus “Lord” while refusing to submit to His Lordship (Luke 6:46).

Lessons for us

Peter’s “nevers” were spoken from ignorance. Though he frequently blundered in word and deed, to his credit, when he learned better, he submitted humbly. In other words, he grew in his understanding, and he grew in humility.

And fallible creatures that we too are, there is hope for us yet!