The Beginning of Healing

By Allen White


Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.


“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.


He replied, “I am not.”


It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. John 18:15-18


Peter had been in denial of these events for a long time. The first time Jesus talked about the events leading to His death, Peter rebuked Him (Matthew 16:21-22). Peter and the other disciples, even at the Last Supper, were jockeying for position in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24-30). Jesus’ words about the Kingdom were very exciting. The passage to the Kingdom was unthinkable to Peter.


Now, Jesus had been arrested. What Peter had so long denied was now coming into reality. The problem was, like many of us, Peter wasn’t ready to own it.


It’s easy to look down on Peter. After all, Peter had pledged, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Peter wasn’t ready to go to prison. He had a hard time just waiting in the courtyard.


When a servant girl asked if Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter denied it. He didn’t run away. He wanted to know what was going on. He was appropriately freaked out at this point. Sure, he could have pretended not to hear her instead of lying. People deal with stress in odd ways.


Peter wasn’t justified in his lying, just like we are not justified in judging him. We don’t even want to get the water cooler humor out of the gutter. Why would we risk arrest?


Each of us faces a reality that is difficult to accept. Maybe someone has given us an insight into ourselves that we would rather not acknowledge. We’d rather say, “Just put the mirror away.” Maybe it’s mounting debt or too many pounds on the scale. Maybe it’s a dependence on something or someone that we still think we could give up at any time. What is that annoying bit of reality for you?


God did not intend for you to live your life enslaved to a false sense of reality. You know what I’m talking about. Rather than just putting it away, why not expose it to the light of truth? As Rick Warren says, “Revealing the feeling is the beginning of healing.” What have you been hiding? It’s time to come clean to someone who can help you.


Don’t go admitting a porn addiction to your spouse. Find someone of the same sex who can point you in the right direction. The conversation with your spouse will come later.


If you can’t pay more than the minimum payment on your credit card or continue to go further into debt, seek out a financial counselor like someone who leads Financial Peace University.


Don’t deny Jesus the opportunity to truly transform your life. Admitting that you are powerless is the first step.




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