A story to tell

This year I have the honor of playing Simon Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples, for the inside scene of the Living Nativity. The inside scene is designed to put some context to the birth of Jesus and help explain why it all matters. It's a lot of work and an amazing opportunity to tell the Gospel story. The play is coming together thanks to good writing, good directing, and the hard work of so many volunteers. I'm getting excited about it!

I love that I get the chance to play the character Peter. Peter is one of the most relatable and "human" characters in the New Testament. He seems driven by passion and good intentions but doesn't always apply them well. I can relate to that. For Peter, throughout the New Testament, he has beautiful moments of wisdom and devotion as well as stunning moments of doubt and failure. This indecision, and these ups and downs, make him a beautiful example of calling, forgiveness, and grace at work. This year the play mainly focuses on four definitive moments that demonstrate the humanness of Peter and the saving work of Jesus.

The opening scene begins at the Sea of Galilee when Jesus approaches Simon Peter and calls him to follow him. I imagine Peter proudly accepting this calling despite all the unknown it brought. Peter doesn't know what he is getting into nor where Jesus will lead him, but he steps out in faith and follows. Jesus is offering possibilities and hope for the future! Peter hopes this itinerant, homeless rabbi has something worth trading for that is greater than all he was leaving behind.

The second scene is built around the time Jesus walked on water and called Peter to do the same. The scene is rich with imagery. Jesus demonstrates his connection with God and shows his power over creation through that. He then enables Peter to demonstrate how he also wants us to have that connection. Peter then takes his eyes off Jesus, begins to sink, and is saved from drowning by the one who came to save him. I imagine this is one of the moments where Peter realized that Jesus was the Messiah. What joy that realization must have brought him despite his doubt and failure!

The third scene highlights Peter’s denial of Jesus the night Jesus was to be crucified. Peter, faced with the possibility of his arrest or worse, denies Jesus three times. He knows who Jesus is. He has followed the calling, walked on water, and even publicly declared him the Messiah. Yet, when he is threatened by a servant girl, he denies the one he loves and believes in. It is a moment devoid of peace for Peter as everything he has lived for and believed in disappears…including who he thought he was.

The fourth scene is Peter’s restoration along the Sea of Galilee. Again, Jesus comes to Peter and reiterates his calling. Three times he reaffirms him once each time Peter denies him. In that act, Jesus forgives him, issues the same call to follow, and lets Peter know that there is nothing he can do to destroy the love Jesus has for him. It is a powerful statement of love and the heart of Jesus.

I see so much of my journey in Peter’s life. With hope, I once said yes to Jesus' calling, not knowing what the future held. I have joyfully declared that he is my God and have been in awe at his work. I have hidden out of fear of man and not wanted to be associated with him. And I have time and again felt his call to return to his love. Through all my ups and downs, passions, failures, and wanderings, Jesus holds me. He is bigger than the most amazing work I could ever accomplish and more loving than the darkest sin I could ever commit. I am called, loved, and carried through this crazy journey of life just like Peter was.

And so are you.

I pray that the true meaning of Jesus' coming gives a little context to all Christmas celebrations. The God of the universe stepped down into our world to show us what love truly is. He showed us what it means to be fully human and what it means to love others despite the many ways they fail to be that. And he showed us that, despite our failings, he will never abandon us.

That is a message our world desperately needs to hear. And I am excited that we get to share it beautifully through our Living Nativity.

Thank you for being part of telling that story with me, and I look forward to what Jesus has in store for each of us.

Merry Christmas!

--Pastor Trevor