Hope Alliance Bethlehem

To a scattered church in turmoil, Peter reminds them of their God-given identity through four powerful statements.  They are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God's special possession.  All of this has been proven by the ultimate rescue Jesus had provided over sin and death.  This identity gave them, and gives us, not only hope for the future, but the truth around which we ought to order our lives in worship.

In Hebrews 10 the author encourages us that in the midst of struggle and turmoil to not turn back to religion, but instead rely on our relationship with Jesus to draw near to God, hold on to hope, and encourage one another.

After Jesus ascends to heaven, Peter assumes the role of being the rock of the early church that fishes for people.  And rather than trying to gain power to control a physical empire, Peter tells a new story of the power of the resurrection...and it changes the course of history.

Peter's stunning and dramatic fall is met by the even more stunning and dramatic forgiveness of Jesus.  In this story we see the incredible reversals that happen in Peter through the reconciling and restoring work of Jesus.

Peter's self-confidence led him to follow Jesus at a distance as he was led away to trial.  But it also set him up for a dramatic and stunning fall.  He would deny Jesus not once, but three times and not in high profile circumstances, but amidst accusations from a servant girl.  But, as the gaze of Jesus catches his eye it not only exposes his failures and brokenness, it also offers and equally stunning and dramatic loving forgiveness.

As he toils in the garden, Jesus asks Peter to keep watch with him.  In so doing, he's redirecting a self-confident Peter away from self effort and toward dependence upon God. It the presence of God and through prayer, our intentions becomes conformed to God and his kingdom.

In John 13, Peter learns what it means to be cleansed by Jesus and to join him in serving others.  We learn that when our identity is rooted in the Gospel, we can join Jesus in serving others, too.

Jesus' cursing of a fig tree is meant to show his disciples the danger of external religion.  This story, married with the cleansing of the temple, points out that while everything might look good from a distance, the truth is that religion cannot produce what God desires - a heart bent toward him.  

Contrary to Peter's inquiry, forgiveness is not a religious action to be counted.  Instead it's the natural overflow of the gospel in our lives.  The King has infused his kingdom with a culture of forgiveness.  And when we are truly impacted by his forgiveness, we cannot help but forgive as well.

In a strange story that seems to center on a fish with a coin in its mouth, we actually find that Jesus is revealing to Peter that "the family of the King is free."  In Peter's context and ours, this means we are free from religion, free to worship in the true temple, and free to act in love.