OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT

My mother used to use the expression, "open mouth-insert foot," at times.  It meant that so often it is easy to open one's mouth and say too much or what you meant doesn't come out like you meant it to.  Happens to all of us at times.

In another episode in the life of Apostle Peter, from John 18:1-11 (and the other gospels), we find this of Peter again with an action.

Jesus is being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.  There are Romans soldier (maybe as many as 600, some feel), plus Temple guards and Judas there.  Jesus was with his disciples in this overnight scene. 

In the gospel of John, John portrays Jesus as always in charge, not a victim.  So Jesus asks the guards, "Who are you seeking?"  They say, "Jesus of Nazareth."  And Jesus says, "I am he." (ESV)  At this point, the army recoils and fell to the ground.  Was Jesus referring to Himself with the phrase, "I AM" as in many other places in John, and referring back to the divine name in Exodus 3:14?  Probably so.  And according to the text, "knees bow" at the sound of the name.

Jesus then attempts to get his disciples freed as he goes with the guards.

And here is where Peter "opens mouth, inserts foot"--actually opens sword and cuts off ear.  And once again, as Peter had done several times before in the gospel accounts, Peter had gotten off track with God's will (and of course, would again, in the denial occurring past this in the text). 

Peter did things impetuously--on the spur of the moment--and they got him in trouble so often.  What do we learn from Peter's response?

• Hasty rather than thoughtful or prayerful decisions often lead to spiritual mistakes.
• When one does not consult the Lord, one often goes directly against the will of God, even with good intentions.  "God's work needs to be done God's way."
• When one acts on his own, he often portrays the cause of Christ or the purpose of Christ in a wrong light.  Jesus came not to be a political leader or revolutionary, but to "save His people from their sins."  Jesus had come to accept God's plan and purpose and way of carrying out that purpose.

Jesus had told Peter earlier, when Peter denied that Jesus would be crucified and resurrected, "Get behind me Satan.  For you have in mind the things of men, not the things of God."  And that is so easy to do, when we do it OUR way.

Fortunately for the early church, after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter was radically different.  We need the Holy Spirit and to keep in touch with the Holy Spirit, so we can be radically different also. 

Growth in faith is important for the individual, for God's portrayal by us to the world, and for God's purposes achieved fully through us.

I am glad God didn't give up on Peter.  I am even more glad God never gave up on me!