Pastor's Corner
Jesus asked questions.
“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40)
"Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)
“Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15)
He could disarm the most aggressive agenda or expose the motives of a well-meaning but misaligned disciple with a simple phrase.
Peter was a special target of these questions. Jesus wasn’t trying to expose and embarrass him. Peter fell short of his own aspirations, but he met Jesus’ expectations of him throughout their time together and beyond.
Jesus wasn’t merely trying to expose a mistake or wrong belief, though. It seems as though a question from Jesus was meant to align a person's trajectory with the path He was leading them on and prepare them to launch into another episode of transformation.
Why Are You Afraid?
“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
In Mark they have witnessed Jesus heal and cast out demons, but they still don’t know who He is.
They are afraid because they don’t realize that Jesus who is with them is the Master over the wind and waves. Jesus encourages them to make a leap from seeing demons cast out to believing Jesus can control the elements.
In the surrounding Greek culture—and frankly by simple observation—the question had to be forming:
Is He a god or what?
They were terrified.
Who Do You Say That I Am?
“Who do you say that I am?”
Peter’s answer,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
shows he has received the revelation of Jesus’ identity and authority. Then Jesus gives a revelation of Peter’s identity and authority in Christ.
Do You Love Me More Than These?
“Do you love Me more than these?”
Jesus asks Peter this after He has died and resurrected.
Does Peter believe that he has the keys of the kingdom and that the church will be built through him? If so, he’ll have to take on the Jesus way of leading, through service and sacrifice.
Do you love Me means:
Am I important enough to you to let go of these?
Ultimately Peter’s mistake at Jesus’ trial was self-preservation, and Jesus is revealing that the key to shepherding is the willingness to care for others first.
It’s a hard lesson for every leader.
A Personal Journey
This isn’t scriptural exposition for me. This is a personal journey.
Jesus, what would You ask me?
I’m coming to You with a question or two of my own, something about how we are going to do it, the challenging mission ahead.
And You cut to the heart with a quick question.
I wonder what it would be.
Maybe like You said to the blind man:
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
The disciples often wanted the wrong things—their enemies defeated, Jesus escaping the cross, a geopolitical kingdom, more money.
But the blind man had a singular desire.
Do I want health for my family, church growth, a great marriage? Sure.
But I think more about wanting to walk in the Spirit.
Faith like Peter.
Preaching like Stephen.
Persistence like Paul.
I’m not sure what people will reflect on me, but I want it to be clear that it was not a manageable human effort, but rather a work of the Spirit.
Pentecost: Not Less Jesus, More Jesus
Peter must have been pretty confused when Jesus died, came back, and then left again. They didn’t get to vote on it.
But Pentecost shouldn’t be underestimated as Jesus’ comeback in a more accessible, universal, fitting form.
Since we often overlook this perspective, I wonder if Peter also struggled to fully grasp Jesus’ promises—that He would rise again and that He would not leave them as orphans but would come to them.
In spite of what he may have felt, he was very receptive to Jesus again and again.
He received Him as Messiah, risen Lord, and then the Holy Spirit as a continuation of Christ’s work—no longer with you but now in you.
Of course Jesus is on the throne while the Holy Spirit is in us, but the unity of purpose and function to equip, train, and encourage makes it a clear pattern.
The same work the Father did through the prophets, He did through Christ, and He does through us by the Spirit.
They are unified.
So Jesus is with Peter in a new and closer, more powerful way.
His Presence
Am I seeing that Jesus is with me in the most powerful and intimate way that history has known?
Am I still focused on my worthiness, limitations, mistakes, or the apparent emptiness of my surroundings or the times we live in?
I want to ask Jesus:
Where are You taking me?
And He might respond:
“Why are you worried about that? Isn’t My presence enough for now?”
The nearest, most fulfilling, intimate, most powerful presence we can experience in this life.
His Spirit not only with me but working in me.
A Prayer
Lord,
I believe; help my unbelief!
Teach me to know that Your Spirit is more than enough.
Forgive me for focusing on my own worthiness, limitations, mistakes, or the apparent emptiness of my surroundings and the times we live in.
Maybe I keep looking for answers while You keep offering Your presence.
I want health for my family. I want a great marriage. I want to shepherd this church well.
But more than anything, I want to walk in the Spirit.
Faith like Peter.
Preaching like Stephen.
Persistence like Paul.
I want it to be clear that whatever good comes from my life was not a manageable human effort, but a work of Your Spirit.
Jesus, what are You inviting me into?
If Your answer is simply,
“Come further into My presence.”
then teach me to say yes.
Amen.
