Matthew 26:30-34: a reflection

30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 33But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.” 34Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

On the way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus warns his disciples that they will all fall away that night; the shepherd would be struck, and the sheep scattered. But Peter, confident in his own faithfulness, objects: Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble. He was sure of his own steadfastness, certain he would stand where others fell. Yet Jesus tells him plainly that before the rooster crows, he will deny his Lord three times. Peter's confidence in his own strength was misplaced.

Notice Peter's overconfidence in his own faithfulness. He did not merely hope to stand; he was sure of it, certain he would never stumble, even if everyone else did. He trusted his own strength, his own loyalty, as though it were beyond failure. But Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself, and foretold his denial. Peter's confidence was in himself, in his own steadfastness; and that confidence proved misplaced, for his own strength failed him that very night. He was surer of himself than he had any right to be.

That overconfidence is a danger for us too, for we can trust our own strength and faithfulness more than we should. We can be sure we would never fall to a certain temptation, never deny our Lord, never do what others do; we can trust our own steadfastness as though it were beyond failure, like Peter. But our own strength is weaker than we think, and such confidence sets us up for a fall. Do not be overconfident in your own strength and faithfulness, sure you would never stumble where others do; Peter was so sure, and yet denied his Lord that night. Hold a humble sense of your own weakness, distrusting your own strength and leaning on God rather than on your own steadfastness; for the confidence Peter placed in himself failed him, and the safest posture is not self-confidence but humble dependence on God, aware that our own strength, like Peter's, can fail us when we least expect it.

Lord Jesus, on the way to the Mount of Olives, you warned your disciples that they would all fall away that night. But Peter, confident in his own faithfulness, objected: even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble. He was sure of his own steadfastness, certain he would stand where others fell. Yet you told him plainly that before the rooster crowed, he would deny you three times. His confidence in his own strength was misplaced. Show me Peter's overconfidence in his own faithfulness. He did not merely hope to stand; he was sure of it, even if everyone else fell. He trusted his own strength, his own loyalty, as though it were beyond failure. But you knew him better than he knew himself. His confidence was in himself; and it proved misplaced, for his own strength failed him that very night. That overconfidence is a danger for me too, for I can trust my own strength and faithfulness more than I should. I can be sure I would never fall to a certain temptation, never deny you, never do what others do; I can trust my own steadfastness as though it were beyond failure, like Peter. But my own strength is weaker than I think. Keep me from being overconfident in my own strength and faithfulness, sure I would never stumble where others do; Peter was so sure, and yet denied you. Help me hold a humble sense of my own weakness, Lord, distrusting my own strength and leaning on you rather than on my own steadfastness.