Because of the Wind

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

Do you know how many Peters there are in culture today? I bet before you finish this paragraph, you can think of at least four famous Peters. I’ll even give you a little help. Yes, Peter Rabbit counts... Pan (of course)... Peter Dinklage (Lord Tyrion forever)... Did you come up with a forth Peter on your own? How about Peter O’Toole, Peter Gabriel, Peter Jackson, or Peter Piper?

In 1957, over 11,000 boys born in the United States were named Peter. Today, it has lost some popularity, but still close to 2,000 baby boys in America were named Peter in 2019.

I love Peter.

No, I’m not talking about any of the aforementioned Peters in the first paragraph. Although Peter Dinklage is a genius and I have spent endless hours enjoying the works of Peter Jackson. However, I am talking about the one Peter that stands alone. He actually goes by several different names: Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas, and Saint Peter. The man at the Pearly Gates. The one who walked alongside Jesus of Nazareth. A fisherman from Galilee called to be fishers of men. THE Peter. I love Peter, the disciple.

If someone asked me who I’d like to have coffee with when I get to Heaven (with the exception of Jesus himself) I would choose Peter. Why do I love Peter so much? I think it’s because I feel like sometimes, I am Peter. Here’s why...

First of all, Peter messed up. And I mean really messed up. Jesus, Peter’s beloved friend and teacher, even warned him that he was going to do the inconceivable; Peter would deny knowing Christ...three times. This seemed impossible. Have you ever had someone call you out before you made a huge mistake and you were like, “No way, man! Not gonna happen!”, only to eat-crow when you end up doing exactly what they predicted? Enter Peter: Deny. Deny. Deny. Cue rooster. I willfully admit that I’ve messed up, over and over and over again, like Peter. That’s the first reason I love Peter because he messed up.

The second reason? Peter loved Jesus. He really, truly did. How do I know this? Because Jesus asked him point-blank, “Do you love me?” Wow! Bold move, Jesus. Granted, this was after Jesus had died and come back to life, done a whole bunch of stuff and then called on his fishermen friends to have a stunning breakfast of bar-be-cued fish preceding his ascent to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (aka God). So, I’m sure Jesus’s bold question was not the only shock to Peter that day. Three times Jesus asks “Do you love me?” Peter’s answer proves my statement, and shows equal boldness. Yes, Lord, I love you. The second reason I love Peter? For his boldness to love Jesus.

There are so many more reasons to love Peter! He’s just such a likeable dude! But alas, the final reason I love Peter is because of his faith.

Maybe you remember the Bible story from your Sunday school class of Jesus walking on water. Pretty cool story. Great visual effects. I think it even inspired the paddleboard… and arm-floaties… Anyway... Jesus is of course the main character of this story (like much of the New Testament) but Peter definitely has a supporting role in this narrative...

In case you don’t remember this Sunday school lesson from 1978, let me set the scene. Location: The Holy Land; The Sea of Galilee Time: the Year of our Lord 33.

Jesus learns that his cousin, John the Baptist has been beheaded by Herod and he withdraws to a “solitary place”. When he returns to the disciples, a crowd has formed. In his grief, He teaches, heals and feeds the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish.

Later, Jesus withdraws again to pray and the disciples sail away in a boat. (Bon Voyage, guys! Way to support a friend in his time of need.) It is then that Jesus walks across the water to be with his friends. Peter (bless his heart) must have been pretty impressed because he actually asks Jesus to call him out upon the water. Jesus simply said “Come” and Peter trusted, he had faith. He stepped out of the boat. He walked on the water with Jesus! Because of the wind, however, Peter became fearful. When he became scared, he took his eyes off the Lord and Peter began to sink.

Jesus catches Peter (the fisherman becomes the fish) and I can just imagine Jesus chuckling at a soaking wet Peter and asking him, “Why did you doubt?”.

There are lots of amazing Peters on this planet. Each one is unique and individual. But I don’t love all those Peters the way I love THE Peter. Like Peter, I mess up, I love Jesus, I have faith and I doubt. When the winds of change blow… or the winds of uncertainty… or the winds of adversity... I take my eyes off Jesus and I lose my faith. Sometimes only slightly and sometimes catastrophically. I look away from the miracle and look to the trial. I look away from salvation and look to damnation. Faith becomes a moving target. Doubt becomes water beneath my feet... But Jesus doesn’t lose his faith in me... or in you... or in Peter Gabriel... Time and time again, he catches me as I am sinking, wrings out my clothes, wipes the water from my eyes and chuckles “Oh, beloved child, why did you doubt?”