When Nero the Roman Emperor torched Rome in wanton cruelty and put the blame on Christians, he succeeded in striking core Christian leaders like Peter. What could have been on Peter's mind during those last few days before he was martyred?
Peter had `escaped' from prison twice. Once when he was arrested with John (Acts 4:1-22) but later set free because authorities did not know what to do. Another time he literally walked out of prison miraculously led by an angel who came in the middle of the night (Acts 12:6-11).
This time God did not intervene. There was no miracle. The man who miraculously escaped from prison twice would die a prisoner and a martyr. Dionysis, Bishop of Corinth recorded this for us. But I think Peter knew it was coming. Surely he remembered his Master's words to him by the shores of Galilee (Jn 21:15-23) and in his letter he (1 Peter 2:19-21; 3:13-18; 4:12-19) indicated that he views suffering for faith inevitable.
Compare Peter's attitude and response with ours. We all like uplifting messages. We like the extraordinary. We often focus on the victorious and talk about miracles. No one talks about the mundane. No one likes to listen to the mundane and the depressing. So no one talks about the times when God did not intervene, when a miracle did not happen. Instead we insist that God must intervene and deliver us from our earthly inconveniences. Let's fast and pray more fervently until God gives us what we ask.
Thankfully, God does not always intervene. He is not so set in his ways like a programmed machined. Miracles do not happen everyday or it won't be called a miracle. God act as he pleases according to his own plan and timing. There is no point for us to second-guess him. His thoughts are beyond us. Don't try to manipulate Him or bargain with Him. That's not the kind of heirs He prefers. Just submit and obey as Peter did – in good times and bad, in the miraculous and the mundane.
Evelyn Meng, GCF iCommentary
Peter had `escaped' from prison twice. Once when he was arrested with John (Acts 4:1-22) but later set free because authorities did not know what to do. Another time he literally walked out of prison miraculously led by an angel who came in the middle of the night (Acts 12:6-11).
This time God did not intervene. There was no miracle. The man who miraculously escaped from prison twice would die a prisoner and a martyr. Dionysis, Bishop of Corinth recorded this for us. But I think Peter knew it was coming. Surely he remembered his Master's words to him by the shores of Galilee (Jn 21:15-23) and in his letter he (1 Peter 2:19-21; 3:13-18; 4:12-19) indicated that he views suffering for faith inevitable. Compare Peter's attitude and response with ours. We all like uplifting messages. We like the extraordinary. We often focus on the victorious and talk about miracles. No one talks about the mundane. No one likes to listen to the mundane and the depressing. So no one talks about the times when God did not intervene, when a miracle did not happen. Instead we insist that God must intervene and deliver us from our earthly inconveniences. Let's fast and pray more fervently until God gives us what we ask.
Thankfully, God does not always intervene. He is not so set in his ways like a programmed machined. Miracles do not happen everyday or it won't be called a miracle. God act as he pleases according to his own plan and timing. There is no point for us to second-guess him. His thoughts are beyond us. Don't try to manipulate Him or bargain with Him. That's not the kind of heirs He prefers. Just submit and obey as Peter did – in good times and bad, in the miraculous and the mundane.
Evelyn Meng, GCF iCommentary
Comments