what if…

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…

~Romans 1:16a

I’ve been a little obsessed in recent weeks by Peter Marshall, a Scottish immigrant who became a popular pastor and ultimately the chaplain of the US Senate from 1947 to 1948. He has several books, and his wife wrote his biography, so his life, sermons, and powerful prayers are well documented…and surprisingly timely for our culture today. In one of the sermons from Mr. Jones, Meet the Master (which is a collection of his sermons and prayers), Marshall is preaching about the Apostle Peter. Within its pages, there is a little piece—a handful of lines—that was a mic drop moment for me. I’d never considered this perspective, and it sent my mind spinning to its implications for the life of every believer.

In walking through Peter’s infamous (and predicted) denials in the courtyard after Jesus’ arrest, Marshall simply proposed a twist on the initial allegation/denial spoken by the servant girl (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John:18:16-18; 25-27). In all four accounts of this scene when the girl says to Peter, “You were with Jesus,” Peter responds with some form of, “I don’t know Him.” So, what was Marshall’s mind-blowing proposition? It was a simple, “What if?”

What if this young servant girl was not accusing Peter as much as inquiring? What if she was hoping (in her own curiosity about this midnight arrest or from her own deep hurt/need) to find out more about Jesus? What if she’d heard about the healings and wanted to learn about this Miracle Man? What if her words wrapped around a heart cry of, “Tell me how you’re so sure He is the Messiah—I need the Living Water He claims to be.”

But in Peter’s own self-protection—and his intense fear—he reacted with vehement denial of knowing Jesus or anything about Him. His defensiveness and panic got in the way of sharing the Good News of Jesus. (Now, praise God, Peter repented, was restored, and was then empowered by the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim Jesus as Messiah—even unto penalty of death. But let’s stay in the courtyard for the time being.)

This perspective is very convicting, isn’t it? As followers of Jesus Christ, do we let our fear and self-preservation (or job-preservation or friendship-preservation) get in the way of sharing the Gospel Truth? Sure, if someone asks us if we know Jesus, we likely will not deny Him outright. But what about in that Monday morning meeting when a coworker asks, “So, what did you do over the weekend?”…but your answer stops at Saturday’s hike or beach trip or home project—not about the awesome sermon you heard at church or how you spent the morning serving in kids ministry. What if the group of people you’re with start talking about favorite vacation spots, and you think about your mission trip to Costa Rica, but don’t serve this up in the mix for fear of rolling eyes or behind-your-back snickering. 

But what if? What if hearing about our Sunday in church plants a seed of interest or opens the door to an invitation? What if in our talking about Jesus someone’s spirit is pricked to want to know more? What if, instead of our perceived snickers and eyerolling, we perceive others the way God does: As lost and broken people in need of Good News? Oh, beloved, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love (2 Timothy 1:6-8)! Let’s go out in boldness for our Lord and Savior! Everyone we interact with is either alive in Christ or dead—why wouldn’t we share the words that lead to life? Our response to a simple question may just change everything.

Oh Lord, forgive me for hiding my love for You for fear of man—what can man do to me? Give me boldness to proclaim Jesus and the life-giving gospel message.