Was Peter A Coward?

Did the Apostle Peter have doubts about his faith? Was he a coward?

Let’s look at two incidents involving Peter. Turning to the Book of Matthew we read:

“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33 ESV).

Aside from being credited with reciting the shortest prayer in the Bible (“Lord, save me”), most of us think of this as Peter failing to trust Jesus completely, thus sinking into the water. But we should look at the fact that Peter even got out of the boat! The rest of the disciples were hanging on for dear life. None of them took that step of faith, did they?

Ok, here’s one more. After the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and the Apostles move to the Mount of Olives where Jesus foretells Peter’s denial.

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.” (Matthew 26:30-35 ESV)

Then, after the arrest and “trial” of Jesus, Peter is approached by several bystanders:

“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
(Matthew 26:69-75 ESV)

Here Peter is often portrayed as a coward. But was he? Again, where are the other disciples? Only Peter was brave enough to risk jail and torture to follow behind Jesus and be present during the trial. Was Peter afraid? Of course he was. But again we have to put all of this in perspective. In today’s terms of being a born-again Christian, Peter would be considered a “Baby Christian”, barely three years into his faith. How many of you were willing to jump into a raging sea or risk persecution for your faith at that time in your walk? I suspect most “mature” Christians would still be sitting in the boat or hiding in the bushes. But not Peter.

Jesus knew the humble fisherman Simon was the one that would eventually lead the upcoming church age. That’s why he renamed him Peter (Aramaic = Cephas, which means “the rock”).

There will be times in our Christian life when our faith is tested. Sometimes our efforts to follow Jesus may mean taking a risk. We can not let fear keep us from taking that step of faith outside of the safety of the boat. We may indeed sink, but we must trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus to lift us up when we do.

One of my favorite authors T.S. Eliot wrote “If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are”. Peter knew exactly how tall he was. Do you?