Monday Moodle #6
It's All in the Plan
“Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain.”
~C.S. Lewis~It’s All in the Plan
Maybe I can help, thought Peter as he followed the torchlight. They moved quickly away from the garden, across the valley, and through the arched gate into the old city. Just hours before dawn, early travelers avoided the stone-faced men and their prisoner. It was night.
Peter tried to keep calm as the parade of brutes forced Jesus through the narrow streets. The sounds of the sleeping city hinted at normalcy: a child’s cry, a mother’s song, a slamming door, and the endless drone of cicadas reminded Peter that life goes on for some, even when another’s world falls apart.
Peter slipped inside an iron gate that groaned as he nudged it to pass. He wanted to stay close, hoping for a chance to rescue the Lord. The moon dipped low, and he felt for his sword.
A dozen people gathered around a fire in the courtyard of the high priest’s home. Warm light danced on their faces, but Peter stood in the shadows. Amid a circle of temple guards stood the Lord. As His eyes met theirs, they looked away. He understood their fear—the terror of disobeying those who forced them to comply with such an absurd drama––and silently forgave them.
Peter’s anxiety grew to the point of bursting, so he did the bravest thing he had ever done—he quietly walked into the firelight. As casually as he could, he pressed in after a few nods and a feigned smile. His heart raced. Each person at the fire wondered who he was but assumed he was a friend of someone else. Peter discretely scanned the faces of those around him. They were people of the land who seemed too shocked, tired, or numb from the surreal events taking place around them to care much about a single stranger.
A young servant girl placed fresh charcoal on the fire and looked directly into Peter’s face. “Are you one of the Nazarene’s followers?” she prodded. With a sideways grunt, Peter denied it, but soon a few others began to stir. Across the courtyard, Jesus, though overcome with weariness, lifted His head and turned slightly, but not enough to give Peter away. Peter felt his pulse pounding as he wondered how to free his Master. Yet he was helpless. The bold, self-reliant, headstrong leader was at a loss.
Nearby, a man roused by the servant girl’s question said, “You are one of the disciples of Jesus.” Peter played dumb and said he didn’t know what he was talking about. Another man, now fully awake, said, “Certainly, you are a Galilean; your accent gives you away.” For a third time, Peter flatly said, “I don’t know the man,” and immediately got up and headed for the gate just as a cock crowed.
Looking back for an instant, Peter locked eyes with Jesus. Within this millisecond glance, Jesus’ voice rang in the heart of His devoted friend. “It’s okay, Pete, I’ve got this. It’s all in the plan.” Overcome with helplessness, Peter fled into the dark street, feeling he had failed his friend.
Ponderings:
Peter was at a loss, but he took the risk to follow his gut, which led him to the brink of being discovered. But if he hadn’t tried, he would have missed a parting look into the face of the One he’d once seen radiant with light and the words impressed in the fisherman’s heart, “It’s all part of the plan.” In that uncanny moment, Peter had a glimpse into the divine dance—a grand ballet whose opening acts spanned two millennia past, now fulfilled as a cosmic cliffhanger before the ensuing scenes: Calvary, the resurrection, and the Church. He was part of it, somewhere caught in the infinite poetry of God’s designs, free to turn or stay. So after the tears, horror, and shock, he rose to gather and encourage the scattered flock, thinking, I got this!
Searching for Treasure:
“When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17)