How to Handle Argumentative People | Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Carl Heinrick Bloch

Matthew 26 31-35

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Jesus shows his gentleness in his concern for his friends even before his own hour of greatest trauma.

He assures them that he will go ahead of them to Galilee, which, of course, they all forget in the dreadful trauma of the next day. His love remains constant, despite their betrayal.

How little even the best of us know ourselves. Peter loves his sublime radiant friend and Lord, Jesus. Peter overestimates his strength of character. He cannot imagine either himself or his friends ever leaving or disowning Jesus, even if he had to die with him.

And yet, in the night terror of soldiers and blows, and scourging and fixed trials, he does just that.

And Jesus lets Peter have the last word.

He says what he has to say, and leaves it.

Arguments are a waste of time. Better let the other person have the last word.

And remember: We are never as strong as think we are.