How Saint Peter overcame his doubts, and replaced them with love
By emptychair
@innertalks (23734)
Australia
February 26, 2018 9:19pm CST
I was in our local church last Sunday, and we had just read a reading from Saint Peter's writings in the bible.
Then, after the reading, in my mind, I asked Saint Peter how he had finally overcame all of his fears and doubts about Jesus.
I sat still in the pew, and waited for his answer.
Saint Peter said that he only overcome them when Jesus asked him face to face if he, Peter, loved him, Jesus.
Three times Jesus asked Peter this question, and this deep questioning of him, purged Peter of all doubts and fear, as he was filled with the love that he then poured into Jesus from himself, and allowed to come into himself too from Jesus, and the holy spirit came to him then too.
The lessons of love must be matched up with the truths placed in you by that love, by Jesus, and by God, and if fears prevent this matching, you will never reach the levels of love required to purge yourself of all fears.
In perfect love there is no fear says the bible, and this is indeed true.
Here is the Bible quote that I am referring to here.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not yet made perfect in love."
1 John, chapter 4, verse 18.
Photo Credit:
The photo used here was freely sourced from the free media site: pixabay.com
It is of Saint Peter.
Saint Peter was finally perfected by love; his great love for Jesus.
2 people like this
1 response
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
27 Feb 18
I didn't know Peter had doubts. That is strange to hear. I thought he only had fears. Among the apostles, he was the only one who was forceful and answered Jesus' questions before he finished asking them. Wonder where in the Bible it says he had doubts and what doubts?
2 people like this
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
27 Feb 18
@innertalks Was it a persistent thing or a one time event? The verse you quoted was situational. I think he was the first of the apostles to recognize that Jesus was the Messiah. He never shifted from that stand. The verse you quoted was a normal human reaction; we are all afraid of the weather and would have wondered if Jesus had the ability to control it because humans believe no one but God can control nature except if given the powers by heaven.
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@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
27 Feb 18
@innertalks I guess I understand your point. But although he must have doubted, he did not stumble. Right?
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@innertalks (23734)
• Australia
27 Feb 18
@mydanods Actually, he made what is perhaps the biggest stumble of all of Jesus's disciples. He openly turned his back on Jesus, denying that he ever knew him, and he did that three times.
He doubted what Jesus had said many other times too.
On this occasion here, for example, Jesus actually called him a stumbling block!
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
Saint Mathew's gospel, chapter 16, verse 23.
For all his foibles though, he did indeed recognise Jesus as his Messiah, in his heart. All the rest was just surface coverings over this firm heart-felt belief, because of his fears, both for himself, and for Jesus too. He did not want to believe that Jesus had to die.
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