(Series: Walking with the Apostle Peter and Jesus)
Jesus will transform your life, just as you are part of the journey in transforming someone else’s life.
In Luke 8:40-9:6, Jesus calls a little huddle among the 12. Among this group is Peter. Jesus gives the apostles power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure disease. Then Jesus sends them out to preach about the kingdom of God and heal the sick.
Previously, Peter has been watching people who have faith that Jesus is their only hope. Peter has been witnessing the power of the kingdom of God in others and has been learning how God views him and who he is. Now Jesus creates an environment for Peter to experience him in a deeper and new way. This is an opportunity to trust in him and his word.
I remember when my triplets were born. During those early months we were experiencing much stress and I remember one important conversation. A good friend said to me, “now you have a choice to live out your theology or not.” At the core of that comment was this question:
Do you believe who Jesus says he is and who he says you are?
Jesus sends Peter out on a training mission and tells him to take nothing. We know this is to bring about a lesson, because later he would tell them they can take things with them as they proclaim the Kingdom.
Peter would go from knowledge of Jesus to experience of Jesus. But the question is, for both Peter and ourselves, will what we really believe about Jesus come out in how we live our life?
Peter now has to live out his trust in Jesus as he goes out on his own and trust in who Jesus says he is. Peter’s theology (belief) and faith is put to practical tests.
David Benner shares “true knowing of our self, demands that we know our self as known by God, and true knowing of God demands that we know God not just as an abstraction or as objective data but in and through our lived experience”(The gift of knowing yourself).
Jesus sends Peter into a lived experience so that he would know Jesus in a new and deeper way.
Three questions of reflection:
a) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what is God revealing about himself to you? What do you need to accept about him?
b) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what are you learning about yourself? How does that align with God’s view of you?
The sending out of the 12 was to proclaim the kingdom of God. However, the first priority was the training of the 12. It was a season for them to put into practise what Jesus had revealed to them; a season for their life to be transformed. Transformed lives have a natural way of proclaiming the kingdom that goes beyond one self.
As you serve others and as you proclaim the kingdom, be aware that Jesus is wanting to teach you something in this process. Be aware that Jesus is wanting your life to be transformed as you are part of the journey of transformation in someone else.