Moments with my First Love [UNDER REVISION]

MOMENT 11: I Am Peter!

Have you ever looked back at the very moment you met Christ? 'Yong tipong fresh na fresh pa ang lahat,and you felt like you could conquer the world for Him? Let's take a trip down memory lane.

Do you remember the day when you asked Jesus what He wants for you to do?
Do you remember the time you told Him that you want to follow Him wherever it may be?
Do you remember the moment you promised Him that you will lay down your life for Him?

Diba, that was the time when you are a newly Born Again Christian. That was when you are still so in love with Jesus Christ. That was when you are always eager to pray, to read the Bible and to go in every church gatherings. That was when you are still on fire. Sobrang init ng pananampalataya mo na feeling mo, hinding-hindi ka na matitisod kailanman. You felt invincible in your faith.

But life happens, diba? The fire fades, the routine kicks in, and sometimes, we find ourselves drifting. Before we examine where we are today, let's take a look at this scenario stated in the Bible—a painful yet beautiful mirror of our own spiritual journey

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times."— John 13:36-38

Honestly, I have read this passage over and over again. I have heard these verses many times in preachings and sharings in our church. And sometimes, I hear it used in some preachings online. Whenever I hear this, I always have this feeling towards Peter... "Grabe naman yan si Peter! Nag-promise promise pa siya kay Jesus. Lakas ng loob niyang sabihing susunod siya pero kinain niya lang mga salita niya.."

What's wrong with Peter? He promised Jesus that he will go after Him. He was so sure while promising. He was too confident. But he only have eaten what he promised. He didn't even fulfill it. Ang daling sabihin, pero ang hirap panindigan, 'di ba? It's easy to judge Peter from a distance. Out of his intense emotion, he made a grand declaration. He meant well, but he overestimated his own human strength.

But the moment God touched my heart and spoke through these verses, I was surprised. I was shattered. I was brokenhearted. Biglang nagbago ang pananaw ko. The holy spirit shifted the spotlight away from Peter and pointed it directly at me.

I saw myself in Peter. Ako pala 'to. I am this Peter.

I am this Peter who once asked Jesus where He is going. Jesus here is the same Jesus today that says, "You cannot follow where I am going now but you will follow afterwards." Jesus means to say that He knew already what will happen later on. Makikita mo rito ang lalim ng karunungan ng Diyos. Jesus knew already that along with His suffering on the cross, you are not yet going after Him. Alam Niya na kapag dumating ang matinding pagsubok, mauuna ang takot natin kaysa sa tapang natin.

I am this Peter who told Jesus that I will lay down your life for Him. Jesus here is the same Jesus today that will tell us that truly, we will deny Him three times before a cock will crow. Jesus means to say that He knew already what will happen later on. He knew already that time will come that we will deny Him in our lives no matter how much we are so sure while we are promising this to Him.

Grabe 'no? Even when we were making those promises on fire, Jesus was looking at us with so much love, knowing that we would eventually fail Him—yet He still chose to listen to us.

Do you see yourself in Peter? Do you reflect your attitude towards God in the life of Peter?

Read the previous chapters in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John... You will see how Peter, together with other disciples, followed Jesus whenever he goes and in every work that he have done. Saksi si Peter sa mga himala. Nakita niya ang pagpapakain sa libo-libong tao, ang paglakad sa ibabaw ng tubig, at ang pagbuhay sa patay. But no matter how intense, no matter how personal is our encounter with Jesus, time will come that our weakness will be seen in us.