Peter would eventually become a martyr for Jesus. Tradition tells us that he was crucified for preaching Christ. According to this reasonably reliable tradition, Peter asked to be crucified upside down so that his own execution did not detract from Jesus’ sacrificial death. Here is a man who stood up for Jesus in the end at the cost of his own life. But, as we see here in John 18, this was not always the case. Peter had told Jesus on the night before that he would lay down his life for him (13:37). But Jesus knew something about Peter that Peter didn’t know about himself. Yes, Peter would become the man who stood up for Jesus at any cost, but only after some growth. First, Peter had to recognise his own doubts and fears. Peter had to face reality before he could walk in truth. It is the same for us all. We must face what we are before we can become what God wants us to be. God does not build on a foundation of self-deception. The building up process, as with the construction of any tall building, begins with the task of digging up the inadequate foundation. There are things that God wants to ‘dig out’ of your life; structures of deception, fears and disoriented desires. He will dig things up that you didn’t even know were there. Like Peter you may be surprised by what comes out, but you should never feel condemned by it. For when God digs it up it is only because he plans to replace it with something better.
Ask God to dig up whatever is false in you.
Read John 18:15-27
