A Time to Speak

People are still interested in those who have spent time with God. Back on the night when Jesus was arrested and rushed to trial, people asked Peter “weren’t you one of the ones who came with Jesus from Galilee ?” Peter denied it, so we don’t get to hear why they asked the question. Still, I wonder. I wonder if perhaps they were simply curious. They knew that Jesus was on trial, and they wanted to know more him. They wanted to hear the story of what God had meant to a regular person like Peter.


At the trial inside, Peter’s testimony seems to be sorely missing. John’s gospel tells us that “the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Judeans come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said’” (John 18:19-21). Jesus tells them to ask someone who was with him. And there is Peter, one of those who had heard what Jesus said, right outside. He could have spoken as a witness, but he wasn’t saying anything.


I wonder, are there times when we keep quiet about our own faith? Unlike Peter, our silence is not for fear of arrest, and we are not going to be asked to give testimony in a trial. But I bet that you and I encounter lots of people like the ones who asked Peter if he knew Jesus. I bet that we meet people who are curious to hear about our own faith, to hear the story of the time we have spent with God. They may not ask directly, as they did to Peter. But they might ask indirectly, leaving a pause in conversation in case anyone has anything to say about the love of God. These openings in conversation are like a question, and we can choose to speak or to remain silent. As a first step, we might just begin to notice those openings. Then, one day, we’ll begin to speak and tell our story.