Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Barbeque/Cookout (09/06/12)
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TITLE: Two Fires, Endless Chances | Previous Challenge Entry
By Abby Kelly
09/12/12 -
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I kept my head down, my eyes cast low as the others indulged in intimate conversation. The mortifying wounds of my betrayal had barely scabbed over in the last weeks. It would be years before they healed. I had publicly declared that I didn’t know him, that I had nothing to do with him.
In an instant, I had chosen to deny all those meals we had shared. I had renounced his touch, all the healings, his words and my grandiose promises. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as he stared at me over that the evening fire.
That night, I would have told you that I was waiting for the right moment. I was waiting for the opportune moment to rise up and brandish my Zealot’s sword! I would defend the Master!
Jesus had been bound, surrounded by an accusing mob of hypocritical religious types. I squatted nearby with a number of servants, none I knew, and John. We pressed close to a fire, listening as Jesus was interrogated. Three skewers of roast fish were burning over the open flame. A young girl leaned over and peered into my face. “You’re one of his friends, aren’t you?”
Fear broke loose in my chest. I love Jesus with all my heart. I thought I could die for him. But in that moment, I faltered. All of the times he tried to prepare us for his death washed over me. Panic clutched my throat. I raised my head to see the Lord, but regarded him as a stranger. The steel of his courage slammed into my weak heart and I crumbled. “I have never seen him before.”
My Lord’s plumbless eyes swam with tears, but he never blinked. His eyes spoke compassion, knowing, anguish. I had failed. Miserably, my soul sank into Judas’ grave, who just that night had set in course the darkest hours of my life.
Judas hung himself. I wished I had the courage to do the same. I was an animal, not a man. I had scorned love. I had failed love. But I longed for hope.
I wanted to believe what Jesus had said, that he would rise from the grave, give me a second chance. But I knew in my heart that if he did rise, I was worthless to him.
Now here we were. Jesus: Alive, true to every promise, and me: Liar and failure. Jesus hadn’t yet said anything about that night. Suddenly, he scooted around the fire’s edge until we were side by side. My skin tingled with the warmth of his love; my soul cringed with self-loathing.
“Peter, do you love me?”
Was he really asking me this? Didn’t he know my heart? Why couldn’t he just banish me and let my bleeding heart implode? But he kept at it. “Peter, do you love me more than these? Peter, do you love me? Feed, tend my sheep.”
With those words of instruction, Jesus tilted my chin with his still mangled hand, like a tender father guiding a wayward son.
Those eyes, those plumbless eyes swam again with tears. How rarely have words failed me, but none can paint a shadow of what I saw in his eyes.
Finally, the sun rose high and our smoldering fire died. Jesus stood and extended his hand to me. I rose. I rose to restoration, to purpose, to His life, to love.
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I'm not sure if all of the events were in chronological order exactly the way it might have happened but if anyone focuses on those tiny details they are missing out on the main message of your story. The anguish Peter must have felt at knowing he had betrayed his friend would be horrible.
Then to realize that Jesus predicted it, even when they were still together Jesus knew Peter would fail. Yet as your story so beautifully shows Jesus wasn't worried about it. It was simply a fact and to show his faith in Peter he charged him with an even bigger task than imaginable--Feed my sheep. Wow those few words say so much. It may have been a tad weak on the topic.
You do mention a cookout but the main part of your story is Peter's anguish. I think the way you grabbed the reader's attention in the beginning and held it to the very end should more than make up for what some may consider weak on the topic.
You did a great job of telling a familiar Bible story in a fresh and beautifully-written way. The message still pertains to us today. Even when we mess up, Jesus still stands beside us and can turn our mistakes and weakness into glory foe God. That's a powerful bit of insight to have.