Article April 2, 1938 Issue

Peter, the Impetuous

LOUISE WHEATLEY COOK

Among the disciples who were with Jesus during the three memorable years of his ministry, Peter seemed continually to be battling against certain unfortunate peculiarities of character, which ever appeared to stand in the way of his progress. For Peter, humanly speaking, was one of those who seemed to possess what the world terms a natural proclivity for making mistakes. He might be called "Peter, the impetuous," acting upon impulse, jumping at conclusions, always trying to take advanced positions beyond his power to maintain. This may well apply to some of those later followers of the Christ, who express today that same zeal without wisdom which seemed to characterize Peter.

If any such who read this may still, perhaps, be smarting under the memory of an impulsive step unwisely taken, and quickly seen to be wrong, let them find comfort in remembering how Jesus loved this erratic student, Peter. For Jesus, with his rare spiritual discernment, perceived, as perhaps others did not, that in this many-sided character, at times so trying, there lay beneath the surface an element of unshaken and glorious stability.

For Peter was teachable. The moment his mistakes were evident to him he began with equal impetuosity to do what he could to correct them. When at the last supper our Master gave that final proof of his love and humility by washing the disciples' feet, we gather that all accepted this but Peter, who with vehemence protested, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." With the exquisite patience which ever characterized him, Jesus explained, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." And then how instantly Peter changed his former attitude! He wanted not only his feet washed, but his hands and his head also. Is it any wonder that Jesus loved him? Who could help loving anyone who so quickly acknowledged his mistake, and tried to make immediate amends for it! The mental pendulum may sometimes, as in this case, swing too far in the opposite direction, but at least this indicates a willingness to concede that one has been wrong.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Affirmation of the Spiritual