“No, thank you!” Thomas said for the third time, his little voice steadily rising with each repetition. He is learning to respond with manners, at least with the right words, but he’s still getting the hang of appropriate responses. Like when he first learned he needed to ask for something he wanted but he still took it from Amelia’s hand as he was asking. His “no, thank you” was in response to his mom’s statement, “let’s go get your bath and then it’s bedtime.”
These days, he’ll try anything to delay bedtime. I need a snack. I need a drink of water. I want to play two more minutes. Read another story please. And since he’s potty training, even that has become fair game. His mom has become adept at calling his bluff. She’s most familiar with his stall tactics and manages to head him off at the pass by redirecting his attention or allowing him small choices on the way to obedience. She wants him to learn to honor his father and mother with his words and his actions so that he will be prepared to respond to his Heavenly Father in the same way.
Peter, as recorded in Matthew 16:22, called Jesus aside with the comment often translated, “God forbid!” or “Never, Lord!” Jesus firmly rebuked Peter, whose affirmation of faith in Jesus as the Christ, Son of the Living God, He had only recently applauded. “You’re thinking like the enemy,” Jesus said. Jesus had just revealed to the disciples that He intended to go to Jerusalem where He would be killed. I’d imagine the ringing in their ears prevented their hearing the rest of His statement, the part about being raised to life again.
Jesus’s life had been threatened many times in Jerusalem but the Bible speaks of His walking away unscathed because His time had not yet come. This was His time. No doubt His humanity wrestled with the inevitable as we often do. We see Him sweating drops as blood (Luke 22:43) not long afterwards during His prayers in the garden where He was arrested, where Peter drew his sword to defend Him. (Luke 22:50)
“Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt.
But the words of the wise soothe and heal.”
Proverbs 12:18 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/pro.12.18.TPT
Impetuous Peter, speaking first, thinking later and acting in the heat of the moment, was learning every minute what it meant to take up his cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) To our knowledge, he’d only seen Jesus become angry once, in the temple where He’d upturned the tables of the moneychangers. He’d seen Jesus weep over Jerusalem and over those grieving the death of Lazarus. When he drew his sword in the garden, when he uttered, “God forbid! Never, Lord!” Peter, like Thomas, was learning that even the best words are sometimes out of place. Jesus didn’t need protecting, but Peter needed saving.
“At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?””
John 18:11 CSB
https://bible.com/bible/1713/jhn.18.11.CSB
““Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you.
Please take this cup of suffering away from me.
Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””
Mark 14:36 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.14.36.NLT
“Then he came back to his three disciples and found them all sound asleep.
He awakened Peter and said to him, “Simon, are you asleep?
Do you lack the strength to stay awake with me for even just an hour?
Keep alert and pray that you’ll be spared from this time of testing. For your spirit is eager enough, but your humanity is feeble.””
Mark 14:37-38 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mrk.14.37-38.TPT
““Peter, my dear friend, listen to what I’m about to tell you.
Satan has obtained permission to come and sift you all like wheat and test your faith.
But I have prayed for you, Peter, that you would stay faithful to me no matter what comes.
Remember this: after you have turned back to me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers.”
“But Lord,” Peter replied, “I am ready to stand with you to the very end, even if it means prison or death!”
Jesus looked at him and prophesied, “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Jesus left the upper room with his disciples and, as was his habit, went to the Mount of Olives, his place of secret prayer.
There he told the apostles, “Keep praying for strength to be spared from the severe test of your faith that is about to come.””
Luke 22:31-34, 39-40 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.22.31-40.TPT
Yes, Lord. Amen. Let it be as You say. This is the only fitting response to the One we call Lord and Savior, King above all kings, Creator, God. All our good intentions, all our best and most high-sounding words, cannot replace our humble surrender and obedience. Jesus didn’t just ask Peter and the others to pray. He set the example for them to follow in His steps. He taught us how and when and why to address the Father. Even in His death, He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34) We honor Him as Lord by our obedience to His Word.
“Loving Me empowers you to obey my commands.
Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands.
Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father.
And I will passionately love him in return and will reveal myself to him.”
John 14:15, 21 TPT
A Fitting Reply 