Best in class
Why good enough isn't good enough and yet better and best are close at hand
If you’ve been around ‘Church’ for any length of time, the figure of Peter is going to be familiar to you.
Few stories as likely to be familiar as Jesus walking on water.
Matthew 14:29-31
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
This amazes me.
We (the western Church as a whole and teachers in particular) give Peter so much crap for so many things...
"He doubts. He gets scared. He's arrogant. He gets it wrong. He fails. He denies Jesus."
And in that it can be really easy to miss the fact that he walked on water.
He. Walked. On. Water.
Water.
Peter.
There’s an important lesson here.
Peter is used as an example of getting it wrong because he is so good.
Peter is the best.
That's the point.
That we fall.
We doubt.
We deny.
Similarly the same logic applies to the ‘Pharisees’ the intellectual and religious elite of Jesus’ day... held up to the audience and themselves as an example of missing it… not so much because they are extra terrible, but because they are about as good as one can do absent the grace of God.
It's just not good enough.
Matthew 5:20
“For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”
...they're the comparative model.
We see this a lot in Scripture. The story of the rich young ruler is another great example...
Matthew 19:23-26
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
So often that gets turned into a discussion of the dangers of money… whereas this is about the need for God and man’s total solvency and insufficiency in the task.
In it we find the rich person held up as an example where 'surely that guy can do it...' just like Peter, just like the Pharisees.
Just like today, the wealthy had an ‘it’ factor.
Just like today, that doesn’t do it.
Is it possible that’s a large part of the point?
Jump into scripture and read the whole conversation. See what you think this is about. I think this is about a powerful person wanting to use that power to become more perfect.
Jesus’ answer? Give up your power.
I think this is about you and I wanting to earn grace by doing good... and the rich man is a simply a great example because he has what many lack, the perceivable 'power to do' that his wealth gives him.
But no.
Not that guy either.
And not the religiously best in class.
And not the best or brave and loyal follower.
And not you.
Nor me.
Nobody.
Not one.
All scripture referenced is NLT unless otherwise noted. I prefer NLT for postural discussion as it is both reasonably rigorous while retaining a conversational tone.
For study I strongly encourage the use of original language tools, multiple translations, and rigorous critical thought.
Please remember that when you read the Bible in English you are always reading someone else’s theological interpretation of the text.