Bad Jokes and Bold Promises

“Peter said, ‘Though all become deserters because of you, 

I will never desert you.’”

–Matthew 26:33  

As a child, I loved to hear stories about things my mother did as a little girl.  By all accounts, she kept my grandparents on their toes. For example, at a young age she once walked by herself to the downtown of her hometown, Goldsboro, NC, and was found playing in the median between two busy streets. Another day, my grandmother walked in to check on a supposedly-sleeping child only to grab her younger daughter just as she was about to climb out of an open second-floor window. Yet my favorite story came from a moment when Mom was in first grade.

My grandparents were present for an Open House at her school where they met Mom’s teacher.  The woman told them how much she enjoyed having their child in her class, but then asked “Where is Patsy learning all these horrible jokes?” My grandparents didn’t know what she meant, but soon discovered to their embarrassment that my mother was repeating funny accounts heard at home.

My grandfather was the kind of person who had a story for every occasion and some of his jokes were off-color. Knowing his 7 year-old didn’t understand the punchline, Granddaddy had not worried if she was present as he joked with his friends. Yet what he didn’t know was that his daughter had a terrific memory and decided that since the jokes evoked a laugh at home she would repeat them for classmates. Only the teacher, of course, understood the punchline, but that whole moment proved the truth of the adage to “Be careful, as little ears are listening!”

Part of what I enjoy about such accounts is how they made my mother even more human. Making clear that she, too, had once been a child who had to learn and grow.  That was true of Jesus’ preeminent disciple, Peter, as well. 

He was the one upon whom Jesus vowed to build his church, but the gospels clearly reveal the man was not perfect. His most dramatic failing came during the dark hours before Jesus’ arrest, when their teacher told the Twelve of the hardship ahead. “You will all become deserters because of me this night,” he said. In response, Peter boasted, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” The prediction was borne-out. To this day, the rooster is a symbol of Peter, not only for that failing, but for his eventual restoration. 

I am so grateful for the un-sanitized portraits found in Scripture of our ancestors in the faith.  For what would it be like to read only of people who acted always in ways that were consistent with God’s will?  What would it mean if those men and women from the past were only depicted as trusting God and never using questionable means to achieve their goals?  For me, such portrayals would be intimidating and discouraging. If the only accounts found in Scripture were those of perfectly faithful human beings, its pages would not speak as powerfully, at least to me. Perhaps that is true for you as well. 

Yet thankfully, the Bible is not edited like that, but instead gives us accounts of people from the past who did incredibly brave things and foolish things. Humans who took God at his word the first time and others who had to be reminded time after time before the lesson sunk in. Individuals who took great risks to act upon their faith and others who ran from the assignment.

In other words, people like you and me.

Faithful one, I am grateful for the breadth of human behaviors depicted in the pages of your Word. For in their stories I find myself, and receive a message of hope and grace. Amen.