Betty Owens Geary

Luke 9:23-25, The Message

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?”  

Reflection: 

Most New Year’s resolutions last about a month. One study found that 80% of resolutions were abandoned in February; another that most were abandoned around January 19! And many people make the same commitments year after year.

I confess I have contributed to this statistic. Like many people, apparently, I mean to keep that commitment, but somehow I can’t. Or don’t. Even the disciples had a problem keeping their commitments—especially Peter. You know Peter, the rock upon which Jesus built his church.

Peter really wanted to be committed to Jesus. At first, he was all in. When Jesus called Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him, they dropped their fishing nets and went. And Peter was the one who recognized that Jesus was The Messiah of God. 

Even having what we could call a strong faith, Peter still struggled to keep his commitments.

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that the disciples would desert him before the night was through. Peter protested the loudest. “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”  

After the Last Supper, Jesus took Peter and two other disciples with him to Gethsemane to pray and asked them to stay awake with him. An hour later he came back, and they were all asleep!  He asked Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me for a single hour?”  

Later that night, after Jesus had appeared before the high priest, Peter denied him three times, just as Jesus had predicted.

What happened then? Did Jesus turn his back on Peter, like Peter had turned his back on Jesus?  No. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, he asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter answered yes every time. Then Jesus said, if you love me, feed my sheep. He put Peter in charge of continuing the movement, loving others, showing the way of God. And the church Peter built is still going strong today.

So how was Peter able to do it after having so much trouble with commitment during Jesus’ life? Jesus gave the answer when he told the disciples, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” (Luke 9:23-27).

“Self-help.”  So many of the resolutions we make are about self-help. Jesus wants us to let him lead the way. It’s not really about being able to do the things we want to do, even if they are good for us. It’s about following Jesus and doing what he wants. We have to let Jesus take the lead. Peter finally learned that lesson, and built the church we still know today.

Prayer: 

Dear God, 

Show me the way. Remind me that I cannot take the lead, that I must follow you.  Lead me to the life you intend for me.  

Amen.