… because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. – 2 Peter 1:14

Today's Scripture Reading (May 5, 2021): 2 Peter 1

It happened on the Sea of Galilee. It was in the days after Jesus's resurrection. The Rabbi had appeared on the shore as Peter and a few other disciples were fishing. They didn't catch any fish, at least not until Jesus showed up. And then they did catch some fish, 153 to be exact. Jesus cooked breakfast that morning. And then he went for a walk with Peter. Peter had denied Jesus, and now the leader of the Apostles was an outcast, or at least, Peter felt that he was. But Jesus made it clear on that day that he was still calling Peter to follow him.

But Jesus also made it clear that following him was not going to be an easy path.

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me" (John 21:18-19)!

Later in his second letter, Peter would write, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). We often wonder if maybe Peter thought that Jesus had delayed his return so that more could be saved. Yet, it seems that Peter already knew that he was not going to get to see Jesus's return because, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had told him how he was going to die.

Peter interpreted Jesus's words on the shores of Galilee literally. He felt in that conversation, almost thirty-five years earlier, that Jesus had made Peter's ending clear. And for the past thirty-five years, Peter had been ministering and waiting for the moment that Jesus had described. Now he felt it was getting close to the moment when he would be led where he did not want to go. 

Now, as Peter waits for what comes next in Nero's Rome, he recognizes that his time is short. He understood that his body was just a tent, and soon the tent would lose its purpose. But as far as Peter was concerned, that was okay. Soon, he would trade in his tent for something much more permanent.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my daughter, Alyssa.