Growing spiritually is the most beautiful and worthwhile thing we can do each moment of every day. Opening up to spiritual progress brings us into the light of divine Love; it heals, restores harmony, and brings a deep and lasting peace.
At times, though, it may feel daunting to hold on to what Christ Jesus modeled for each of us and what the Bible teaches us about our spiritual nature. At times, we may doubt, feel unsure of the truth of what we’re learning, or even deny our faith. The good news is, even during these times, God does not quit on us.
One of the best examples of this in the Bible is the story of Simon Peter and the progress he made, though haltingly, toward becoming one of the greatest disciples of that time. We can start reading about him in the book of Matthew when Jesus was gathering his twelve disciples. As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he invited two brothers who were fishing, Andrew and Peter, to follow him. He told them that he would make them “fishers of men.” And they left their nets and followed him (see Matthew 4:18–20).
Jesus brought his twelve disciples together to show them how to heal spiritually. Through his teachings, he “gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” (Matthew 10:1). His teachings were not only for that time but for all time to come—for the twelve to follow, and for current-day disciples such as each of us to follow, too.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, explains: “Christianity as Jesus taught it was not a creed, nor a system of ceremonies, nor a special gift from a ritualistic Jehovah; but it was the demonstration of divine Love casting out error and healing the sick, not merely in the name of Christ, or Truth, but in demonstration of Truth, as must be the case in the cycles of divine light” (p. 135).
After devotedly and rigorously mentoring his disciples, at the last supper before his crucifixion, Jesus broke bread with his disciples and told all of them to drink from the cup (see Matthew 26:26–28). Perhaps this symbolized that they should partake wholeheartedly of what was going to come about, to glean from it for their own continued spiritual growth and development.
After quite an eventful initial training time Peter had with Jesus—marked by learning, doubt, recognizing Jesus’ spiritual identity, misconstruing part of Jesus’ mission, and more—one of the vital parts of Peter’s story is found in John 13 after the last supper. Jesus, who so dearly loved his disciples and deeply understood what was imminently coming, showed them great love by washing their feet and wiping them with a towel. Peter, in a moment of what I can imagine was blustering admiration for and dedication to his Master, initially said that he would never allow Jesus to wash his feet. However, Jesus told Peter that if he didn’t let him wash his feet, Peter could have no part with him. Peter then said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus replied that washing his feet would be enough.
Jesus had demonstrated the love and humility required to be a true and willing disciple of his teachings. And he told his disciples to follow the example he had set: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Jesus also cautioned that they were going to be “offended because of me this night” (see Mark 14:27–31). Again, Peter in an adamant show of dedication stated that even if others were offended because of Jesus, he never would be. But Jesus was aware that Peter would falter. And as recorded in the book of Luke, Jesus tells him, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not,” and he also forewarned Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice (see Luke 22:31–34).
After Jesus was arrested, some of the people nearby recognized Peter and spoke to him, indicating they’d seen him with Jesus (see Mark 14:66–72). Peter denied three times that he had been with Jesus, and the third time he “began to curse and to swear,” saying he didn’t even know Jesus.
No matter how we may doubt, become discouraged, or feel fearful along our journey in life, Jesus showed that God never quits on us.
When a rooster had crowed for the second time, Peter recalled what Jesus had foretold. I can only imagine the sorrow Peter’s actions caused him. Here was Jesus, the highest example of selfless love, offering him the greatest gift of all, and he denied knowing him, possibly out of fear and desperation. Once he recognized his fault, “he wept.” It was a turning point of his story.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy makes clear that for our individual spiritual progress, we must allow divine Love to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). It says, “The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love” (p. 201). Jesus poured in this truth through love for his disciples and for all of us! And the eternal Christ is pouring in this truth through love today, delivering God’s healing and redeeming messages to each individual human consciousness.
No matter how we may doubt, become discouraged, or feel fearful along our journey in life, Jesus showed that God never quits on us, and never leaves us alone. God never stops sending His messages of love and truth to us. God simply does not become discouraged about us. Jesus exemplified this; in expressing God’s love, Jesus never gave up on, or grew discouraged by, Peter as his footsteps faltered along the way.
Following Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter told some of his fellow disciples that he was again going to go fishing (see John 21:2–22). Initially they didn’t catch anything, and then someone on the shore gave them some instruction, which they followed. Their net was then overflowing with fish. At this point, one of them realized and told the others that the man who had spoken to them was Jesus, who was now resurrected. Jesus then invited them to eat with him.
Then Jesus asked Simon Peter if he loved him. In fact, he asked him three times. For the first two times, it is recorded that Jesus asked if Peter loved him using the Greek word agapao (spiritual love, which is the purest form of love). The text has Peter answering both times that he loved him, but using the word phileo (brotherly love—the fondness one friend has for another). Then the third time Jesus asked the question, he used the word phileo, and Peter still responded in the same way. Though Peter did not respond with agapao, each time he clearly declared his love for Jesus in the way he grasped at that time. Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep,” and then his last words to Peter were “Follow thou me.” It seems to me that Peter had continued to grow in grace and love, which is something we all need to do. Science and Health so aptly points out: “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds” (p. 4).
While Peter had quite a journey along the way for his growth in understanding, he grew to become one of the leading disciples of the time. In Acts, it is described how he immediately healed a man who had been “laid daily at the gate of the temple.” When the lame man asked for money, Peter responded by giving him something greater in the name of Christ Jesus: healing (see Acts 3:1–11). And Peter healed others, too, during his vital ministry.
While we learn and grow along the way, and while we daily work and pray to understand and follow Jesus’ demonstration of true spirituality, we don’t have to feel discouraged or give up. God never gave up on Peter. And God never gives up on any of us. Through his great love for them, Jesus showed the disciples their true identity as God’s spiritual reflection, and what they could do; and likewise he also showed each of us our true identity and what we can do, laying out the path for everyone for all time to come. Even in times when we feel as Simon Peter did at points along his spiritual path, divine Love doesn’t quit on us. We can take great comfort in this and just keep growing spiritually as we watch, pray, and work to demonstrate more of God’s truth and love each step along the way.
