“Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!”

A Series on Lent: Peter’s Journey
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mt 16:13-23

[Lent is a time of reflection. During Lent, we will be looking at Peter’s Journey to learn how his reflections on his own life, his culture, his religion and his savior changed his life forever.]

In the movie “300”, there’s a dramatic scene where the Spartans, who are heading into the Battle of Thermopylae, cross paths with the Arcadians, who are also going to battle. However, because of their small number, the Arcadians question the commitment and ability of the Spartans to defeat the Persians.

King Leonidas asks some of the Arcadians, “What is your job”. To which they timidly respond, “A potter, a blacksmith, a sculpture”. 

But when Leonidas shouts, “Spartans, what is your profession!” They resoundingly respond with a fearless war cry. “Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!”

 

(You can click on the link below to watch this brief scene.)
 "Spartans, what is your profession?"

His point is that the Spartans would follow him into battle anywhere because they were raised to be warriors; trained to fight; drilled to defend. It is in their DNA. Bottom line… they would follow Leonidas to their death.

 

Jesus had led his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi, a part of the country that was predominantly Greek. He seems to want to gauge what people think of him there; who they say he is. But really his question is directed at the disciples.

 

¹⁵ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”            NLT

 

Peter seems to hit the nail on the head. Because of this, Jesus commends him and blesses him. He gives Peter a new identity… the rock. He gives him a vision for the future and the leading role that he will play. Jesus inspires and motivates Peter to follow him into battle.

 

The only problem is, Jesus isn’t going into battle. In fact, soon after Peter’s confession, Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he will be going to Jerusalem where he will “suffer many things, be killed and raised to life”. Because of the inspirational blessing of Jesus, Peter chastises him for such talk.

 

Apparently Peter still didn’t understand why Jesus came.

 

Every week at my church I recite the Apostles Creed saying what I believe. It’s a way of answering the question that Jesus asked his disciples; “Who do you say I am”. 

Every week I get the right answer. But I’m not so sure it’s from my heart. I’m not sure that I’m ready to follow Jesus into battle like the Spartans.

 

“Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!”

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

It’s Greek to Me

A Series on Lent: Peter’s Journey
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mt 15:1-20

[Lent is a time of reflection. During Lent, we will be looking at Peter’s Journey to learn how his reflections on his own life, his culture, his religion and his savior changed his life forever.]

  

Have you ever felt like you just didn’t get it? That you didn’t understand what someone was trying to tell you. It’s like the old saying goes, “It’s Greek to me”.

 

One of the basic courses that I took as an engineering student at Michigan Tech was dynamics. Dynamics is all about… well, I really have no idea. That class was when I figured out that engineering wasn’t for me. I didn’t understand what the professor was talking about. It was Greek to me.

 

I would imagine that’s how Peter felt in this story. The Pharisees had confronted Jesus about not making his disciples follow the “tradition of the elders” of washing their hands.

 

In response, Jesus took the opportunity as a teachable moment to confront the Pharisees. In fact, he escalated it to the point where he no doubt embarrassed and shamed them in front of a crowd.

 

Being highly astute, the disciples pointed out to Jesus that he had offended the Pharisees. I’m surprised that scripture doesn’t quote Jesus as saying, “Duh!”

 

Instead he tells them a parable that applied to the Pharisees. But Peter didn’t get it so he asked Jesus to explain the parable. To which, Jesus chastised Peter… again.  Jesus then explained the point he was making in this teachable moment.

 

¹⁶ “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. ¹⁷ “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. ¹⁸ But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. ²⁰ These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” NLT

 

The text doesn’t tell us whether Peter finally got it or not. The point is, that we are no different than Peter. Sometimes, we just don’t get it. We don’t understand what the Lord is saying to us. It’s Greek to us.

 

The good news is that Jesus never leaves us; never quits working in our life; never stops loving us; and never stops trying to teach us. 

Our job is to keep listening; keep looking; and keep believing until it’s not Greek anymore.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

Transformers

 

A Series on Lent: Peter’s Journey
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Mt 14:22-36

 [Lent is a time of reflection. During Lent, we will be looking at Peter’s Journey to learn how his reflections on his own life, his culture, his religion and his savior changed his life forever.]

 

 

“Transformers” is a series of American science fiction action films that was inspired by the toy of the same name from the 80’s. The first movie was simply titled “Transformers” and came out in 2007. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” is yet to be released in 2023. Be sure to mark it on your calendar.

 

Peter had a “transformer” kind of experience. A more accurate description would be to say that he was transformed. It was when he tried to walk on water. But to fully understand why it was transformational, we need to look at the backstory.

 

The disciples were on a boat during the night in the middle of the Sea of Galilee when a full-scale storm came upon them. One translation puts it this way: “Their boat was tossed about by high winds and heavy seas”.

 

We can probably assume that some of the disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen, had been up all night fighting the seas. It was during the fourth watch, about 4:00am, when things got really interesting. The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water! Terrified, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

 

²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!^”                NLT

 

This statement is much more than Jesus just saying, “Hey, I’m here”. It’s a direct reference to Exodus 3:14 where God spoke to Moses saying that his name is “I am”. In this verse, Jesus is saying that he is “I am”; that he is God.

 

Emboldened by Jesus’ words, Peter questioned him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water”. But when Peter tried to walk on the water and realized just how dangerous it was, he cried out with these three transformational words, “Save me, Lord!”

 

Following this, when everybody was safe in the boat on a quieted sea, Peter and the disciples realized not just what Jesus had done, but who he was.

 

³² When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.    NLT

 

Meeting Jesus, the Son of God, on the Sea of Galilee, transformed Peter. Where have you met Jesus? Where will you meet him in the future? Whose life will he lead you to touch and transform?

 

Like Peter, may you and I come to that point in our lives of calling out to "I am" saying, “Save me, Lord”.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

 

 

Hook Line and Sinker

A Series on Lent: Peter’s Journey
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 5:1-11

[Lent is a time of reflection. During Lent, we will be looking at Peter’s Journey to learn how his reflections on his own life, his culture, his religion and his savior may have changed his life forever.]

  

My fishing experiences are pretty limited. In fact, there are only three times that I went fishing in my whole life. The most recent one, was a disaster!

 

We went deep sea fishing off the coast of North Carolina, about thirty miles out. For as much as we paid, you’d think the boat captain would know the best spots to catch fish. After all, this was his job. He was the expert. However, the total catch for the day was three fish. I didn’t catch any… but I did get very sick!

 

Peter had a day like that. He and his partners had been fishing all night without catching anything. He was probably hungry, angry and tired. After all, this was his livelihood, and he had nothing to show for his work.

 

As Peter cleaned the fishing nets, Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people nearby. It’s hard to say whether Peter had been listening to him or not, but Jesus asked Peter to take him out in the boat so that the crowd could hear him better. Even though Peter was busy, he took Jesus on the boat.

 

When Jesus was done speaking, he asked Peter to take him out to the deep water and drop his nets again. Now, if I was Peter, I would have been at the end of my patience. But, out of respect for Jesus, or maybe he felt obligated, Peter complied. The results were life changing!

 

They caught so many fish that Peter called his partners to come with another boat. In fact, they filled both boats with fish. There were so many that the boats began to sink. It was then that it hit Peter.

 

The catch of fish got his attention. It sunk into his thick skull that Jesus wasn’t just your normal rabbi, or random religious leader. He was something greater. Peter fell to his knees and said to Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Here’s how Jesus responded.

 

 “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.                        NIV

 

Peter bought into to Jesus hook, line and sinker. He not only bought into what Jesus said, but to who Jesus was. Because of this revelation, Peter’s life was changed forever. And not only was Peter’s life changed, but all those whose lives he touched.

 

During this time of Lent, ask the Lord to reveal himself to you in a life-changing way so that you, like Peter, would buy into Jesus hook, line and sinker.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams