Chester V. Clark III: The relevance of the Word

Published 8:53 am Saturday, October 20, 2012

Peter was quite a character! One of the first disciples called by the Savior, Peter immediately abandoned his nets, left his fishing trade behind and followed Jesus. Naturally assertive (and perhaps impulsive), Peter distinguished himself by his blunt honesty and transparency, and at times by his unfiltered tongue. If there was one of the disciples who seems to have frequently spoken before thinking it was Peter.

Take the last supper, for example. Jesus earnestly longed to prepare his disciples for the tragedy of his betrayal and crucifixion. He had already told them what would happen to him, and now he attempted to reveal to them what would happen to them. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered’’’ (Matthew 26:31).

We notice that Jesus not only told the disciples what would take place that night, but he also made a clear application of an inspired prophecy written by Zechariah. It’s as if he were to say, “This isn’t just my prediction — it’s what the Scriptures say will happen to you tonight.” He sought to prepare his beloved disciples by the application of the Word of truth.

But Peter would have nothing of it. Zechariah’s words might be relevant to someone else — but surely not to him! To his brother Andrew, maybe. Perhaps to Nathaniel or Thomas or Bartholomew. But he was Peter! He was absolutely confident that Jesus could not be referring to him. And so he blurted out, “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

We might fault Peter for his blatant contradiction of the Savior, or for his misplaced confidence. But we have to give him some credit for honesty. In typical Peter-fashion he was simply verbalizing his thoughts in real time. It is likely that while the other disciples in the room were silently listening to this interchange between Christ and Peter they were probably thinking nearly the same thing. Each of the disciples thought that surely they would be the faithful one while the others would probably be the ones Jesus was talking about.

This seems to be a human tendency. It is easy to assume that the Word is relevant to someone else, but to me? No way! If I were a betting man I would be willing to wager that most of those who read this article, or who read this passage in the gospel of Matthew, do so with a subconscious assumption that if they had been there they would have never done as Peter did. We take it nearly for granted that the lesson from Peter’s impetuosity is surely for someone else, but not for us.

The ironic thing is that when we read the Bible with this assumption we are doing exactly what Peter did. How often do we listen to a powerful or pointed sermon and think, “I’m so glad so-and-so is hearing this message,” or “I sure wish such-and-such could be here today, they really need to hear this.” I’m not saying that we shouldn’t wish God’s blessings on our friends or loved ones, but I am saying that we need to first make the message of the hour, the message of the Scriptures, relevant to our own hearts. Peter didn’t, and it cost him dearly.

The problem is that the failure to make the message of truth relevant, and apply it first to our own hearts, leads to an even greater danger. Jesus loved Peter, and in an attempt to make the truth relevant Jesus addressed Peter directly. “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” There was no ambiguity in Jesus’ words. They were specific. And they were addressed directly to Peter.

But Peter was not prepared to have truth shine so brightly into his own heart. Having failed in the beginning to make Jesus’ words relevant to himself, Peter now progresses to openly denying and contradicting Jesus’ words. “‘Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you!’ And so said all the disciples.”

We all know what happened. Jesus knew Peter and the disciples better than they knew themselves. In a different mood, in different circumstances, and only a few hours later, none of them remembered their brave assertions. “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.”

Most of us don’t consider that if Jesus were to address us directly we would even think of arguing and contradicting. But it all starts with thinking that we’re the exception, with failing to make the Word relevant to us. We need to study God’s Word asking for the Holy Spirit to make it relevant to our experience. We need to listen to sermons with an ear to hearing God’s voice speaking to our hearts, warning us of our danger, and stop trying to apply it to everyone else.

Let’s experience the relevance of the Word.

Chester V. Clark III is pastor of the Dalton Seventh-day Adventist Church.