IV: Peter's Fall Foretold
John xiii. 31-38; Luke xxii. 24-38.
So soon as Judas was gone Jesus had no further thought for anything but the salvation of the world, the glory which God would gain even from this awful act of treachery, and His Soul was fain to exult in the joy of this perfected work of Redemption.
" Now all is the Son of Man glorified," He said, "and God is glorified in Him; nor will He any longer delay to glorify Himself."
Though they could not wholly grasp the significance of these words the Apostles felt that they presaged the death of their Master, and at the thought their sorrow was unrestrained, the while Jesus comforted them with a gentleness most like the tender talk of a mother.
" My little children," He called them, " I am to be with you for but a little longer. You shall seek Me, and even as I told the Jews that they could not go whither I am going, so I say to you now. I give you a new Commandment, that you love one another, that each of you be beloved by the others, even as I have loved you; by this all men shall know that you are My disciples, if you mutually love one another."
A divine lesson this, whose importance the Apostles rightly esteemed when, in after days, rising above the Mosaic Law, they welcomed all mankind as their brethren, showed a greater love for them than for themselves, and in such God-like charity found a peace and gladness hitherto unknown on earth.
Jesus left His disciples to gather the meaning of this new law in silence; but Peter soon broke the thoughtful quiet. In all that he had just heard one thing alone stood out sharply before his mind,— the idea that the Master was about to separate Himself from the company.
"Lord," he said, "where art Thou going?"
"Whither I go," responded Jesus, " thou canst not follow Me now; later on thou shalt follow Me."
Those words unveiled the future before Peter's eyes,— his fall in the time of headstrong self-confidence; his self-denial and his martyrdom in the days of his humility. But as yet he could not comprehend all this.
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| St Peter. J-J Tissot. |
" And why cannot I follow Thee now?" he replied. "I will lay down my life for Thee."
" Thou wilt lay down thy life for Me!" answered Jesus. " Of a truth, yea, of a truth, I tell thee, the cock shall not crow till thou deny Me thrice." Then once more the Lord was silent.
This prediction humbled Peter's spirit; he sunk back overcome, as though struck down from the lofty rank to which the Master had raised him. Thus, too, the other Apostles understood this saying, for they began immediately to ask which one of them should succeed to the Primacy, of which Simon was no longer esteemed worthy. This rivalry soon involved them in a dispute, and at the very table where He had but now united His Apostles in blessed Communion Jesus must needs interpose so soon to curb their selfish ambitions.
" The Kings of the nations," He began, "command them even as masters, and those that have the power over them wish to be called their Benefactors. But for you do not likewise; let the greatest become the least, and let the first among you be the servant of all. For which is the greater, he that sitteth at table or he that serveth? Yet I have been among you even as a Servant."
Evidently the solution to the humility of which He had given them such an example hardly moved these carnal-minded men at all, for the Lord went on at once to set before their sight the recompenses assured to the companions of His trials. A Kingdom was prepared for them; in this Kingdom there would be much feasting, whereat all should eat and drink; there would be thrones likewise, where seated with Him they should judge the Twelve tribes of Israel.
The Apostles received these promises in silent delight. Peter listened with them, but still overwhelmed by the prediction of the Master. Jesus marked his sadness.
" Simon, Simon," He said, " Satan hath desired to sift thee as wheat is sifted. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And do thou in thy turn confirm thy brethren."
The Lord spared nothing to revive the spirit of the Prince of the Apostles; not content with praying for him in a special manner He promised him an impregnable faith, so steadfast and constant that it would suffice to strengthen his brethren, and make him the infallible mouth-piece of Truth. In return for such gifts of grace He only demanded that His servant should assume a humility commensurate with his unequalled greatness.
Once again Peter could not comprehend all this; he was only the more obstinate in his presumption, boasting of his courage, insisting that he was sure of himself.
" Master," he cried, " I am ready to go with Thee to prison and to death."
Then once more Jesus foretold his fall.
"Peter," He said this time, by that symbolic name reminding him of the firmness which he was to look for without avail from him,— "Peter, today even the cock shall not crow until thou hast said three times that thou knowest Me not."
But the Chief of the Apostles was not the only one thus threatened; the flock was to be scattered and bereft of their Shepherd. Of this Jesus forewarned them now.
"When I sent you without sack, without script, without shoes," He said, "did you want for anything?"
"Nothing, Lord."
"But now whoever hath a purse or scrip let him take them, and left him that hath naught sell all, even his garment, that he may buy a sword. For I say unto you, that which Israel hath foretold of the Messiah is now to be fulfilled in Me: He shall be reckoned in the ranks of the wicked."
This was but meant as a warning to bid them be in readiness for a spiritual struggle, but the Apostles understood it is referring to some pressing danger.
"Lord," they exclaimed, "See, we have here two swords."
Grieved to the heart at finding His disciples, just as formerly, ever prone to misunderstand His thought, Jesus put aside the swords.
" It is enough," He said.
And breaking off the theme of their converse He no longer endeavoured to do anything but fortify their souls against the future.
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