Passing the Wrong Test

 Luke 22:31-34 (NIV)

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

We know that after some delay, this is what happens.  Yet it seems odd to us that Peter could come so close, understand so well, be warned that something like this might happen, but just a few hours later, fulfill exactly the prophecy that he feared most.

I think Peter's focus was on the wrong test.  When they came for Jesus and took him away, Peter was unable to prevent it - and was even told not to prevent it - but he still wanted to do something. He decides to be the witness to what has occurred. Someone has to see this.  Someone has to be a witness and tell the others. Look at what he does, hovering nearby, edging closer, trying to stay within visual distance.

He knew this was dangerous.  He knew that to be exposed as a follower was to be in physical danger himself.  He told himself he didn't care about that, he had to force his way, or trick his way, or talk his way into a position to be a witness. Even that was a huge risk. He took that risk.  He did show courage. All the others had fallen away, but he was still there, still loyal.  The only one who dared. In his mind, he was passing the test, skirting the edges of danger and perhaps even death, in order to be the witness, the task he had set himself. He did pass that test.

But it was the wrong test.  Jesus had not asked him to do this. Peter thought that Jesus needed a witness - and God did bring good out that, it seems, by using the account later in the Scriptures to let us know what had happened. Yet somehow Jesus knew there would be witnesses enough. Peter's despair is from the realisation that he has devoted himself honestly to a task, but had not simply obeyed, and this had led to him denying his Lord.

Something similar but more extreme may have happened with Judas. I have read a number of interpreters suggest that Judas thought he was doing Jesus a favor by forcing him out into the open.  Judas had decided was was needed, and made sure it happened. Except...