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31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
–– Matthew 26:31-35
So they said. How many times have we been the they in that phrase, having commitments we broke, appointments we missed, deadlines we ignored, resolutions not even kept to the dawn of the next day, promises we fudged, loyalties we snubbed, confidences we betrayed?
You can count on me! –– I’m on it! –– It’s as good as done. –– I’ll be there for you. –– My word is my bond –– It’s at the top of my list. Famous last words, all. If only our actions could keep pace with our intentions and ideals. Yet, zeal flags, energy wanes, distractions beguile, motivations mix, and the next thing you know, you are grasping at cliches for a passable excuse. The dog ate my homework –– The traffic was horrible today –– I’ve been really busy –– My lumbago acted up (and you don’t even know what lumbago is. Clue? You can’t buy it at a deli.)
The more blatant your blunder, the more exotic the excuse –– I had to watch the kids (Sure, throw them under the bus). –– I called but you didn’t answer (How about a text?) –– Isn’t it flooding over there? (It’s hard to tell with the sun in my eyes.)
The flimsier the excuse, the quicker you shift to blame –– Your instructions were not very clear –– Why didn’t you send me a reminder? –– It wasn’t fair for you to expect that from me.
So they said. Our pretense of dependability is seldom if ever fail-safe. Thus, when Peter persists in assuring his fealty, even after Jesus foresees his denial, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you,” Jesus doesn’t say anything, but you know what he’s thinking as he rolls his eyes, Sure thing, Petey…
When pastors, elders, and deacons are ordained, they must make a number of I do/I will statements, declaring their commitment to the faith and calling to which they have been called. These I do/I will promises are connected to words like peace, purity, unity, energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. Sure thing, Jesus. No problem, cue the clown music. As Martin Luther observed, “Did we, in our own strength confide; Our striving would be losing.” Perhaps, the best answer we can offer to such promises isn’t I do/I will, but rather, By God’s grace, I will. Remember how Paul clarified where our strength truly resides, “We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” In Christ, God does for us what we could not do on our own. The truth of Christ’s amazing love for us is revealed as Jesus, knowing Peter’s fickle faith, continues forward to the cross anyway, and promises a reunion in Galilee. That doesn’t render our promises empty, but it makes clear how they are kept. We will… by God’s grace.
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