Series: Lord of Lent
Arrest and Denial
Reflections
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.
— “Screwtape,” a senior devil, to his nephew, “Wormwood,”
in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- Peter’s complete failure
- Bible is filled with stories of people failing
- Major injustice, major pressure
- Don’t react to things, learn to respond to them
- In the scripture, Peter is reacting to things happening, lack of self-aware, not taking into account of the identity and agenda given by God
- (Note to self: when Peter said earlier that he would lay down his life for Jesus, was that reactive also?)
- We often have our own identity and agenda
- Toddlers and teenagers might not know their identity, but they definitely know their agenda, very reactive
- After Peter’s failure is complete, he is ready for transformation
- Jesus’ measured response to the high priest: non-violent, but ask them back questions
