Day 29: I will do anything... I promise
Desire can make us crazy. It comes upon us like a roaring lion. Our craving for affection, or attention, or… well what is it for you? Do you remember when you were young, and you wanted something? Maybe it was a "thing" like a new bike. Maybe it was an "event" like staying up (or out) past a set time to be home. Maybe it was being with a person, you know, how you might do anything to hang around with a certain guy or gal. How long did the desire last?
“Hormones, humph!” A phrase uttered by my father. He watched me, seemingly overnight, change my priorities. Those things that had once consumed my attention and energy were now a distant memory. I had a new focus, and somehow getting new jeans was an important part of my new persona. As I write this, I can’t remember who the person was I was trying to impress. Hormones.
Peter’s desire isn’t so sudden. We see his transformation throughout the New Testament. He is an enthusiastic follower, at times stumbling behind. He has had moments of brilliance, and dullness. His desire is not hormonal. He desires to always be with Jesus. His enthusiasm bubbles over. He knows Jesus is taking his own life in his hands, and Peter is willing to go and die with Jesus—or so he thinks.
Jesus foretells Peter’s moment of cowardice. When the rubber hits the road, courage often turns to cowardice. This isn’t so with Jesus, though. (And John’s point in telling this here isn’t to “out” Peter as a coward, but to show us all what we’re capable of… especially when compared to Jesus!)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love one another, just as I have loved you. The full image of that love will be shown in a matter of hours. The call to sacrifice for those for whom you care about, for those whom you love, will reveal the depth of your desire.
Jesus is going to show you his deep desire, his deep love for you to be in a relationship with the Father. Back on Day 8 I wrote about Love. I noted how for us it is a risk. Not so for God. God, Jesus, doesn’t risk. He doesn’t gamble. God acts with full knowledge of the outcome.
We, at times, when we desire something, will say, “I will do anything… I promise” and then we don’t follow through. Not so for God. God desires that you be with Him forever. He will do anything, anything, including dying on the Cross for you… so that you might be with Him. He promises.