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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – St. Peter is my favorite apostle. He’s impulsive. He’s wrong about many things. He makes mistakes, which are recorded for all time in Holy scripture. And yet he is one of the foundational figures of Christian faith.
St. Peter reminds all of us that God can use you and me, despite all of our faults.
Peter’s lowest point is when he denies being a follower of Christ, three times, after Jesus is arrested. A servant girl of the high priest asks him, twice, if he is one of Jesus’ disciples. A third person notes Peter’s accent; he’s a Galilean, and asks if he is with Jesus. Peter denies Christ all three times.
Jesus restores Peter, and says “you are the rock upon which I will build my church.” The cornerstone of Christianity is someone who is so… imperfect.
Peter’s best moment in all of Scripture is when Jesus asks him, “who do you say I am?” Jesus knows that some people think he is a holy man… how else could he teach with such authority and heal the sick? Others say he is Elijah, the one who comes before Messiah. Jewish leaders of the day thought Jesus was a charlatan, a fraud, or a demon. His presence threatened their authority.
But Peter has already seen too much… the miraculous catch of fish, the feeding of the crowds, the healing of lepers, the blind, and the lame. He saw Jesus calm the storm, and order demons out of the possessed. Peter has seen the transfiguration, where Jesus was transformed into glowing white and the voice of God said, “this is my son.” How much more could one person need? “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered: “You are the Christ. The Messiah. The Son of the living God.” And Jesus blessed him.
Some day, when our time on earth is done, I believe all of us will be asked the same question. “Who do you say I am?” I hope you’ll think carefully about your answer.
Chris Conley
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