The "Bear Story"

John 13:36-38

How well do you know yourself?  How confident are you in yourself?  Self-confidence is defined as; “a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment.”  Are feelings reliable, or what is a feeling based on: “the capacity to experience strong emotions, or a particular impression, appearance, effect, or atmosphere sensed from something.” 

Bill Gillham enjoyed telling a story to make a point, one such story was the “bear story.”  It goes something like this; you’re in the woods and the largest bear you ever seen begins to chase you.   Your emotions, Bill calls that your (Feeler) and your mind, he calls that your (Thinker) tells (Will) that bears run faster than people, that bears climb trees, and that bears eat people.  You, at this point, see a cabin and it has one door, and one very small window.  You make it to the cabin and shut the door; it is made of 4” oak timbers and has three ½” thick iron hinges holding the door and brackets on both sides to hold the 4” oak timber that drops into them.  The cabin is also made of 12” x12”x 12’ timbers and could withstand the attack of a small army, you are safe in the cabin.  One small problem, your “feeler” is off the charts, you are safe in the cabin but you do not feel safe, and you’re about to have the big one.  If you had more information you would begin to feel safe.  Bill always gives a (Key Concept) – “Whether you are talking about Christian-faith or cabin-faith, the main issue is not the amount of your faith, but the object of your faith.”

Now back to how that ties into John 13:36-38, which is the account of Jesus foretelling Peter’s denial.     Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” (John 13:36-38 ESV)  Peter is very confident that if all the others leave Jesus he will not.  But we’ve learned that self-confidence is defined as a feeling, and Peter’s feeler is stuck, on a scale of 1-10, and ten being maxed out, Peter is at a 12.  

Matthew also gives an account of this; they are leaving the Mount of Olives and Jesus tells them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31-35 ESV)  The Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul had this to say to you and me, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 

(1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV)  It is not self-confidence we need; what is needed is God confidence, and that will require knowledge of His faithfulness.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice