As boys, my brother and I would always play a game where he would try to hit my hand before I could take it away. We frequently played this game at the kitchen table and over the years, we actually wore a smooth spot into the table from all the times he missed my hand. At times it really took a lot of coaxing to get my brother to play the game because he hated losing. He felt defeated as if he could never win. Why did he keep trying?
I watched a Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) playoff game last night. The Lakers played the Oklahoma Thunder two nights before and had gotten flattened by more than twenty points. In the next game, the Lakers nearly controlled the entire game. Their confidence stood greatly bolstered compared to their prior loss. Yet, with a seven point lead and two minutes to go in the game, the Lakers turned the ball over three times without a score. In the end, they lost a game that looked like a win for them. What more could they have done? They played an excellent game, a commanding game, and still they stood defeated. Only two losses from exiting the playoffs, the odds greatly against them, what motivation will push them to put forth the effort to win?
The apostle Peter loved Jesus. He knew Jesus as a peaceful man who proclaimed the kingdom of God. Yet, in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter acted outside of peacefulness. He drew his sword as a mob of men led by Judas Iscariot encircled Jesus. Then he chopped off the ear of one of the advancing men (John 18:1-11). Jesus called a halt to the violence immediately. Peter knew better, but could not control himself. His own instincts momentarily overcame his devotion to Jesus teaching. The moment represented a defeat for Peter.
Prior to the occurrence in the garden, Peter swore his allegiance to Jesus (Matthew 26:35). After the men took Jesus from the garden to Annas, father-in-law of the High Priest Caiaphas, Peter followed behind to see what would happen. Three times people questioned Peter if he knew Jesus. Once again, Peter could not control his worldly instincts. He denied knowing Jesus each time though he said he never would (John 18:12-27). His bold proclamations of allegiance fell in defeat.
Peter recovered from his self defeat. He went on to share the first gospel sermon providing entrance into the kingdom of God (Acts 2). He taught the household of Cornelius, gentiles upon whom the Holy Spirit pouted out, who would also enter the kingdom of God. Yet, Peter’s failing did not come to an end. The apostle Paul speaks in Galatians 2:11-14 of Peter separating himself from Gentile Christians out of fear of the Jews. Once again, Peter found himself defeated by his sinful actions.
What keeps a person going when he experiences defeat? The motivation that appears and picks up the defeated is hope. Hope of winning kept my brother playing our childhood game. Hope that the Lakers can turn things around keeps them trying game by game year by year. Hope kept Peter moving forward. It is hope that he shares in the letter to the Christians scattered abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. The hope he directs Christians toward centers on the return of Jesus. I Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober inspirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Christians rise above defeat because of hope. Only defeat lies ahead if you are not a Christian (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Embrace Christ today and overcome defeat (I John 5:1-5)!