Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) John 18:10
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. John 18:25-27
So how does one go from going hard to defend Jesus by cutting off a guy’s ear to denying Him shortly after? How do we explain Peter’s behavior? Obviously, I can’t. I won’t really know till I get to ask him personally. What I can speak to is the need for the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. What is the most basic fruit of the Holy Spirit when He begins to conform our character and heart to be like Jesus? Self-control. Self-control ISN’T simply our ability to stop ourselves… it is the ability to make the choices and decisions HE suggests we make. How do we know what He wants? You have to listen to Him, and agree with Him. I think Peter would have acted differently on BOTH issues IF he had the Holy Spirit like when he was given and received Him at Pentecost. But Peter didn’t have the Holy Spirit speaking within his mind and he was acting on self-impulse BOTH times listed above, probably driven by fear and doubt.
How many times do we act on our impulses before EVER ‘checking in’ with the Holy Spirit? Have you learned His fruit of self-control in that you ask Him BEFORE the decision, BEFORE the action, BEFORE your social media post, and you actually agree with His suggestion and go with His direction and instructions? Peter was drastically different in character AFTER the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Was he completely right on everything after that ‘baptism’? No. He still was swayed by his Jewish peers and Paul had to correct him in the years following. Just like Peter we are a ‘work in progress’. The speed of that progress is determined by our willingness to surrender to the Holy Spirit and His conviction upon us, over and over. Our spiritual maturity depends on our ability of how quickly we can yield to His wishes. Will you be able to respond with His fruit of kindness to the rude interruption someone just thrust upon you? Will you have His fruit of goodness to be able to pray for that individual later? Oh… the absolute NEED I have for the Holy Spirit in my current life and days. Obviously, Peter had learned these lessons from the Holy Spirit throughout his life. He was certainly faithful to the end, and did it in ‘style’.
Are we learning the lessons the Holy Spirit has for us? Are we purposely listening to Him? Are we seeking Him out? How many words and actions today did you do … with Him, or at least with the self-awareness that He is listening and watching everything you are saying and doing?
Oh Lord Jesus come and immerse us with your Presence. Holy Spirit have your way with ME! I need Your fruit in my life!