On the Body of Christ

Luke 21 34-36 as it applies to Peter’s denial and subsequent transformation.

If I profess Christ’s redemptive power, there is only one question to ask myself, “Am I Peter before or after the cruxifiction?”

I can imagine the Teacher telling Peter at a point in his ministry, “Peter you will be my body.”

And Peter not knowing or understanding the significance, replying with something like, “I do not understand, Rabbi, but only explain and I will.”

To which Christ would reply, “The day will come soon, when I will say to you. ‘Peter now go and be my body, even before the Gentiles. And when that day comes you will weep for Joy.

For it will be at that moment when you will know the Glory of the Father and the Kingdom of Heaven will immediately shine out from within you through me.’ ”

Then to imagine myself to be Peter going through both the agony of the denial, all the way up to and through to the glory of Pentacost.

How my knees would be insuffcient in keeping me upright upon my encounter with the risen Christ….I wonder if I would immediately comprehend at that moment the words he would have heard over and over from the Master.

I must admit however, if I were Peter, I would still not have put two and two together, until the risen Christ would have said to Me/Peter. “Now Peter I ask you, Will you be my body?” I venture after being brought to from passing out, the shear magnitude of the fullness and truth of that meaning would forever change my very “being-ness.” For no longer could my mind stay out in that land that says I am my own….for I would forever be in God through Christ, bound by the Spirit of his Way.

Amen now and forever.