Making unhealthy comparisons between your life and the lives of others is a typical mistake we as people appear to often make, and people comparisons can lead you to find yourself in one in every of two different places, depending on the character of your comparison. You will either find yourself in a state of pride or a state of despair if you compare yourself to others. Let me provide you with a few examples of what I’m talking about.
Several years ago, my wife and I invited an excellent friend to hitch us for dinner at our home. This friend had been going through a very difficult season of life that involved all types of unexpected changes and disappointments. Partway through the conversation, she said something to the effect of, “I at all times thought that after I reached this season of life, my life would look much different. I keep other people my age, and I ponder why I haven’t achieved what they’ve achieved.” In that moment, the comparisons our friend was making led her to experience a heavy season of despair.
Around that very same time, I remember engaging in conversation with one other friend who was able of ministry leadership. He would repeatedly compare the ministry he served to other ministries and had developed an unhealthy attitude of pride about it. Sadly, soon after making those comparisons, his position was terminated, and he needed to swallow his pride while finding one other line of labor.
Overcoming Pride and Learning Humility in Following Christ
The early disciples of Christ struggled with making worldly comparisons as well, particularly in the course of the early days of their ministries. At times, they’d compare their place of prominence inside the group to the others they served with. We’re also given an example of 1 disciple specifically who compared his devotion to Jesus to the extent of devotion the opposite disciples possessed.
The disciple I’m referring to is Peter. There are a number of things I appreciate about Peter, but additionally a number of areas of character that took a little bit longer to develop. Peter was an action-taker. He was a person of conviction, and he was quite willing to talk up and express his opinion, even when others were hesitant to achieve this. The other disciples recognized Peter’s leadership gifts. It’s clear that Jesus recognized and acknowledged those gifts as well, but there have been a number of lessons of humility that Peter needed to learn before he could really change into the effective instrument he became within the leadership of the early church. One of those lessons is illustrated for us in Mark 14:26-31, 66-72.
“And once they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it’s written, “I’ll strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.” But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though all of them fall away, I won’t.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I inform you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny me 3 times.’ But he said emphatically, ‘If I need to die with you, I won’t deny you.’ And all of them said the identical.” – Mark 14:26-31
How Is Peter’s Pride and Denial the Fulfillment of Jesus’ Prophecy?
After having fun with the Passover meal together, Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus continued to show these men as they journeyed together, including revealing that these men who considered themselves as devoted followers of Christ would fall away from Him. This motion could be a prophetic achievement of the words given in Zechariah 13:7.
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the person who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; I’ll turn my hand against the little ones.” – Zech. 13:7
In most cases, when a pacesetter is stricken or impacted, it’ll change into an issue for individuals who follow him. This is a tactic that Satan often seems to utilize in his attempts to harm the church. If he can hurt those in leadership, influence them to make moral compromises, persuade them to chase worldly ambitions or take them out in another way, this typically has a significant impact on the churches they serve.
Shortly after saying these words, Jesus was arrested and crucified. His disciples fled and hid when that happened because they feared experiencing an analogous fate. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was struck, and His followers scattered.
In the hours before this got here to pass, I’m guessing this needed to be difficult information for the disciples to listen to, particularly on the heels of the indisputable fact that Jesus had also just revealed that one in every of them would betray Him. In response, Peter got a little bit defensive. The Scripture tells us that the opposite disciples got a little bit defensive as well and denied that they’d abandon Jesus, but Peter’s words actually stood out amongst the gang.
In his pride, Peter compared himself to the others and insisted that even when the remaining of the group was weak-willed and scattered, he would never do such a thing. He claimed that he would slightly die than deny Jesus. Those are words which are easier said than lived out, and Jesus cautioned Peter, telling him that Peter really would deny Him that very night. In fact, before the rooster crowed twice, Peter would deny Jesus three separate times. Peter didn’t consider this for a second, however the words of Christ were shown to be true very soon after this conversation was complete.
“And as Peter was below within the courtyard, one in every of the servant girls of the high priest got here, and seeing Peter warming himself, she checked out him and said, ‘You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I neither know nor understand what you mean.”’And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and started again to say to the bystanders, ‘This man is one in every of them.’ But again he denied it. And after a little bit while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you’re one in every of them, for you’re a Galilean.’” – Mark 14:66-70
The Struggle to Stand for Christ in Public
That very evening, Jesus was arrested and dropped at the house of the high priest, where He was questioned, accused, mocked, and hit. Peter lingered nearby, attempting to control what was happening. As a person of motion, I believe that there was a component of him that felt motivated to aim to save lots of the day and perhaps intervene on behalf of Jesus. I picture Peter at this point, attempting to operate like a spy. He desired to remain near to Jesus without being recognized, so he frolicked within the courtyard outside the high priest’s residence, warming himself near the fireplace as others were also doing.
We’re told that one in every of the servant girls discovered who Peter was, and he or she claimed that Peter had been with Jesus. He denied it, and within the background, a rooster crowed. She then attempted to influence others who were standing nearby that Peter was one in every of Christ’s followers. Again, he denied following Jesus. Finally, the group commented to him that, indubitably, he should be one in every of Christ’s followers because he was a Galilean, and it was within the region of Galilee that Jesus called His first disciples. Peter, specifically, had been a fisherman who fished on the Sea of Galilee.
When I read the account of this interesting moment in Peter’s life, I can’t help but acknowledge that we’ve all probably wrestled with the same struggle of deciding whether or not we actually desired to be identified as a follower of Christ in a public context.
When you were growing up, what did you primarily need to be known for? Did you must be known for following Jesus, or was that a facet of your life you preferred to maintain quiet about? When you went away to varsity, was that what you desired to be known for? Is that what you must be known for in your social media? Is that what you must be known for if you attempt so far someone latest or start a latest job? Lest we be too harsh on Peter, we want to confess that for many of us, there was very likely a time in our lives once we kept quiet about our relationship with Christ lest we experience some type of social repercussion for being outspoken.
“But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I have no idea this man of whom you speak.’ And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny me 3 times.’ And he broke down and wept. – Mark 14:71-72
The Humbling Power of Comparing Ourselves to Christ
Peter emphatically tried to disclaim any association with Jesus. He invoked a curse on himself. He swore. He denied knowing Jesus in any way, and as he did so, he heard the rooster crow a second time, just as Jesus prophesied. Peter, the person who compared himself to the opposite disciples and implied that he was more dedicated to Jesus than they were, had just denied Jesus when he was put to the test.
Peter was humbled by this error. We’re even told that proud Peter broke down and wept. Luke’s gospel gives us one additional detail about what took place at this moment to each prove the validity of each word Christ spoke while also teaching Peter a lesson in humility. Luke reveals to us that on the very moment Peter made his third denial, Jesus turned and checked out Peter.
“But Peter said, ‘Man, I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and checked out Peter.” – Luke 22:60-61
When I read a passage like this, I can’t help but wonder what decisions I might make in life if I needed to look directly on the face of Jesus while making those decisions. In fact, to assist encourage myself to live with a transparent conscience, that is something I make a degree to assume in my mind. I try to picture the face of Christ because, in doing so, I’m acknowledging the indisputable fact that I’m called to serve Jesus, who’s our merciful and sympathetic high priest. He understands all the things I’m wrestling with, yet He also knows that His power is sufficient enough to enable me to say no to sin temptation, and ungodliness.
If we’re going to check ourselves to anyone, it shouldn’t be each other. Worldly comparisons only result in pride and despair. The standard we must always compare ourselves to is Jesus. He is ideal in holiness, and He invites us to follow Him, obey His teaching, and represent Him wherever He sends us.
Comparing ourselves to His standard is the healthiest comparison we will make. It will produce humility once we realize that He alone is ideal. It will even remind us of our dependence on Him to bridge the gap between our rebellious hearts and the holiness of God.
© John Stange, 2024. Originally published at Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Andres Ayrton
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads a web based community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded thousands and thousands of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
