Put Me In, Coach, I'm Ready to Play
AM Psalm 97, 99 • PM Psalm 115
Micah 7:7-15 • Acts 3:1-10 or 1 Cor. 15:(29)30-41 • John 15:1-11
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Peter. He is, one might say, the epitome of imperfection. On the one hand, he seems to emerge from the outset as Jesus’ right-hand disciple. At their first meeting, Jesus recognizes him right away, apparently without ever having been formally introduced: In John 1:35-42, we find Simon Peter and his brother Andrew in the presence of Jesus after a sermon by John the Baptist. Jesus looks directly at Peter and says, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter).” In Matthew 16:18, Jesus commissions Peter as the leader of the church: “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” On the other hand, Peter did deny any knowledge of Jesus three times during the night before the crucifixion—and after the third denial, Peter weeps bitterly, realizing his egregious fault.
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we find Peter getting a chance to redeem himself. The chronology is uncertain but open to speculation: The crucifixion probably took place in early April; the events in the Acts of the Apostles transpire after the first Pentecost, perhaps sometime between early May and mid-June. So the memory of the crucifixion could have been both vivid and recent.
Peter and John are on their way to afternoon prayer at the temple, when a lame beggar stops them and asks them for money. Here’s Peter’s big chance. He remembers that Jesus has authorized the disciples to perform miracles (see Matthew 10:8: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.”), and he knows that the apostles have already begun to do so (see Acts 2:43: “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles." Peter tells the beggar to “look at us,” and he tells the man that even though he has no money he can give him a greater gift: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And, lo and behold, the beggar does so.
I can imagine what must have been going through Peter’s head at the time: “Whew! What do you know? That worked!” Performing his first miracle, Peter regains his status as Disciple Number 1. Well done, Peter/Simon/Cephas!
Written by David Jolliffe
At St. Paul’s, David sings in the choir, helps to coordinate the Tippy McMichael Lectureship Series, and distributes lunches and beverages to a safe camp for the homeless in South Fayetteville.