If you could wake up tomorrow with any superpower, what super power would you want?
The ability to fly? Invisibility? Being extremely rich to turn into the next Batman or Ironman?
I used to be a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, and that was okay, but I think now I'd pick the ability to teleport so I could be anywhere at any time in an instant . . . it seems like a good way to see the world at a low cost without having to rely on frequent flyer miles. Honestly though, Some super powers are just better than others. For instance, I'd much rather have super strength than the ability to tie my shoe laces with my mind. That would be lame . . . like so lame I might not even show it for show and tell day. Another super power that, personally, would be rough to have would be the ability to know everything. Just think, you may always get A's in school, but you'd always know what people thought about you . . . the good and the bad and you probably wouldn't have many friends because you'd be a (here it comes) "know-it-all." Really, I just think there's one Person that could have that super power and be able to pull it off well, and thankfully He does.
In the Bible, there is a really special underlying story that takes place in John 13, 18 and 21 between Jesus and Peter. Most commonly, this is the story of Peter's denial of Jesus, but in reality there is so much more to it than that.
In John chapter 13, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him, while Peter is convinced that he would easily lay down his life for Jesus. Then, in chapter 18, we read that not only does Peter not lay down his life for Jesus, but he openly denies even knowing Him THREE times. That would be like me denying that I even know my best friend not once, not twice, but three times in public while I've actually gone to school with him, ate with him and shared life with him for three years . . . not to mention he's also standing in front of a jury about to be convicted of a crime I personally know he did not commit.
Ouch.
However, in chapter 21 we find Jesus offering Peter a chance for not only redemption, but also a chance to see why Jesus is still bros with Peter, post-denial. Jesus has defeated death by this point and has resurrected from the dead. Now, He's just making the occasional guest appearance at disciple events and proving that He is indeed alive. The disciples have just come back from a morning of fishing when they see Jesus on the shore waving them in for breakfast. As they sit by the fire, Jesus has this amazing conversation with Peter that goes a little bit like this:
Jesus: "Do you love me?"
Peter: "Yes, Lord. You know I love you."
Jesus: "Feed my lambs. Do you love me?"
Peter: "Yes, Lord. You know I love you."
Jesus: "Tend my sheep. Do you love me?"
Peter (probably slightly irritated at this point at being asked the same question three times and references to sheep): "Lord, you know everything; you know I love you."
Jesus: "Feed my sheep."
Don't get me wrong, the fact that Jesus let Peter redeem himself three times after he denied Him three times is a beautiful picture, but what's even more spectacular to me is the way Peter says Jesus knows He loves him. It's this beautiful picture of Peter knowing Jesus loves Him despite his mistakes. Even though Jesus knew Peter would deny him, Jesus still knew Peter's true heart. Regardless of what Peter's flesh did, Jesus still knew Peter's true love for Him because Jesus, being Lord of all, has the gift of knowing everything. Jesus knows us. He knows me, and He knows you. Regardless of how broken and messed up we as humans can be, He knows where our hearts truly reside.
-Cliff
Cliff's Note: Despite our flesh failing, Jesus' love doesn't, and we can know that because He knows us.
What I'm Reading:
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
The letter of First Peter