The True

Fully Immersed

Peter the disciple makes me chuckle. The Gospels are full of wild stories about Jesus’ ministry, but the stories involving Peter are just so unpredictable and marked by his impetuousness. Peter is the disciple who cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant when Jesus was being arrested (Jn. 18:10), the one with the nerve to actually step out of the boat when Jesus issued the crazy invitation to walk on water (Matt. 14:22-33), and the one who, in the course of a single evening, went from promising to Jesus' face a willingness to die for Him to strenuously and repeatedly denying even knowing Jesus. Then the rooster crowed and Peter remembered what Jesus had said only hours ago, "[B]efore the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" (Jn. 13:38).

When a story involved Peter, you just never knew what was going to happen. That is relatable to me! In many ways, Peter is the human embodiment of Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” It is not exactly a ringing endorsement of Peter, and yet he is also the disciple who Jesus called the rock on which His church would be built (Matt. 16:18). Now THAT is a ringing endorsement!

So why are these two things simultaneously true? Why would Jesus choose the guy who was always causing problems as a central vessel through which to carry out His mission going forward (Peter’s failings meant Jesus had to heal the severed ear, and also that He was left alone in His time of greatest need)? Why that guy? Why not John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn. 13:23)? Or even someone like Nathanael, my namesake, who, unlike me, was found by Jesus to be free of any deceit (Jn. 1:47)?

Basically, why not someone more dependable? More stable? Less problematic? Why the impetuous Peter for this huge task? Scripture gives us some clues, and I invite you to consider these two reasons and how they apply to you, as well:

1) Peter was desperate for ALL of Jesus

2) Peter took an open invitation from Jesus and put it personally into action

First, in John 13, impetuous Peter is appalled Jesus wants to wash his feet. Peter is indignant Jesus would be so undignified, and he refuses to go along with it, saying, “No . . . you shall never wash my feet” (v. 8). But when Jesus responds that Peter will have no part of Him unless he is washed, Peter changes his mind in a moment, and in a way that is anything but half-hearted, “Then, Lord, . . . not just my feet but my hands and my head as well” (v. 9)!

In other words, “I want the full bath!” If the water Jesus was using to wash feet meant more access to Jesus, Peter wanted to be fully immersed in it! He was desperate for as much of Jesus as he could get!

Next, a closer look at the story in Matthew 14 of Peter walking on the water suggests our second reason Jesus chose Peter. In verses 26-27, both the disciples’ fear and Jesus’ invitation are collective. The fear is held by all of them (“they were terrified” and “they cried out in fear.”) Likewise, Jesus’ invitation to have courage was offered to all of them (“Jesus immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”)

The disciples were ALL afraid. Jesus offered courage to them ALL. But only Peter answered the call. Only Peter took action. Only Peter took Jesus at His Word and trusted that Word over what a lifetime of experience on the water told him was true. Only Peter took the promise of Jesus and translated it into the tangible world.

Jesus was looking for someone who wanted all of Him, and who was willing to put His Word into practice in the tangible world. He found that person in Peter, and He longs to find that person in you today.

How much of Jesus do you want? Do you want the foot washing? Do you want His wise words? Or do you want the full bath? Do you want to be the embodiment of His Word and Truth in a tangible world? Are you willing to put your ultimate trust in the accuracy of His Word even when it flies in the face of all that you “know?”

Which will be? Will you play it safe, or will you choose to follow Jesus with an abandonment that allows Him to continue building His church through you?

Choose the bath. Be fully immersed. Step into the water. Put your ultimate trust and faith in the fact that His Word is True. You, like Peter, will make mistakes. But the mission of Jesus will advance because of your decision to take Jesus into the tangible world!

U.S.

Fighting, Negotiations, and Protests

There are several important developments related to the war between Israel and Hamas:

- Fighting has intensified in the Rafah region, including airstrikes that killed at least 22 people

- Israel has offered Hamas a deal described by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as “extraordinarily generous” that includes a 40-day ceasefire and the release of additional Israeli hostages

- Protests on U.S. college campuses are now widespread, and demonstrations at Columbia University included the takeover of an administration building

- A Jewish student has sued Columbia University for failing to provide a “safe educational environment”

- The International Criminal Court, which does not have jurisdiction over Israel, is reported to be on the verge of issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials

Analysis and eternal perspective: It is a lot. These developments are a lot for us to take in, and they are obviously extremely significant for those directly involved—especially those in the line of fire.

As Jesus followers, we need to strike a prayerful balance. We are clearly instructed to defend the oppressed (Is. 1:17), seek peace wherever possible (Ps. 34:14), and also protect our hearts against despair as we choose to draw on God’s peace for our lives (Jn. 14:1, 27).

It feels impossible to pull all of those off all at once when it comes to this story. In a very real sense, that is precisely the point. We live in a broken and fractured world. Our daily walk with Jesus involves a repeated calling of the broken back into a restored relationship with Him. We are to defend the oppressed, and we are to do it until He calls us home. We are to seek peace, and to persist in that pursuit even with the knowledge it will be elusive until we slip the bonds of Earth. These two realities are what enables us to have untroubled hearts rooted in God-given peace. It is not a fleeting peace rooted in temporal outcomes, but rather one deeply assured by the promise of eternal reconciliation.

So still your soul today. Root yourself in God’s peace. Do so not in ignorance of this great tumult, but in order to have the steadiness to reach into it and offer freedom for the oppressed and a lasting peace to any who would receive it.

U.S.

Absolute Immunity

The U.S. Supreme Court heard two-and-a-half hours of arguments over what amount of immunity from prosecution is afforded U.S. presidents. The case stems from election-related charges brought by the U.S. Special Counsel against former President Donald Trump. The former President’s legal team is arguing presidents have “absolute immunity.” The Court’s ultimate decision will impact not only this case, but also any prosecutions of future U.S. presidents.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The Justices appeared critical of the claim that presidents are entirely above the law (citing examples of a coup or selling nuclear secrets as acts for which immunity should not be granted), and it seems unlikely that will be the outcome of this case. There did, however, seem to be some consensus that some “official acts” should be immune from prosecution. It is always a fool’s errand to predict the outcome of a Supreme Court case, but it is reasonable to forecast that neither side will get everything it is asking for. One distinct possibility is the Court will narrow the scope of activities for which presidents can face prosecution and send the case back to the lower court for implementation.

As Jesus followers, we should consider this story on the merits (Pr. 18:17), even as we very likely have a wide range of opinions about the people involved. A decision like this will have significant ramifications in the United States and the world, and it will reverberate long after the current actors are gone (should our Lord tarry).

Even more important, we should model grace and love in the way we interact with others about this story (1 Pet. 4:8). You and I may have legitimate and strong opinions about the merits of the case, but it is helpful to remember the fomenting that undergirds so much of the information taken in by those around us. It is no accident it produces fear and anxiety. It need not be so for those of us in The Equipped community, and we can offer that stability to those around us, as well.

U.S.

TikTok Banned

The clock is ticking on the popular app TikTok after Congress passed and President Biden signed a law banning the app in the U.S. unless its owner, ByteDance, sells it within 12 months. The law was enacted due to concerns that ByteDance has a close relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is widely believed to use the app as a conduit for sharing private information with the Chinese government. ByteDance has indicated it will not sell the app, and will instead challenge the new law in court.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Assuming ByteDance follows through on its promise to challenge the new law in court, it will be some time before we know the ultimate fate of the popular app in the United States. However, as Jesus followers, we would be wise to consider the information already available to us as we steward whether and how to interact with this technology, or any other. After all, there are plenty of legal products that are harmful to consume, and conversely, there have been numerous instances across human history (including present day) where the life-giving substance of God’s Word has been outlawed.

As it relates to TikTok, much of the uncertainty stems from the protections (or lack thereof) of both user data and creator data. ByteDance is subject to Chinese information-sharing requirements, and recent allegations suggest the CCP may have “backdoor” access to some of the data generated by TikTok.

In addition to privacy concerns, parents should be particularly mindful of how any product—particularly one that shares information with and about our children—impacts the spiritual, mental, and psychological health of our children.

As we as The Equipped community work to implement 2 Timothy 1:7 and choose lives infused by power, love, and sound minds rather than fear, we would be prudent to avail ourselves of more information than simply whether a technology or product is legal when deciding whether and how to use it.

The Beautiful

Unseen

There is a unique beauty under the surface of creation. It includes aesthetics and visual beauty, but also the wonder of perseverance. The delicate and fragile nature of a single plant seems unsustainable, and yet God’s “higher ways” cause new blooms year after year (Is. 55:8-9). Be intentional to notice the mystery in the unseen things of creation this week. Embrace the beauty of knowing “in part,” and the promise of knowing “fully” when you meet the Creator “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12).