Pilgrims Progress

Three Keys

Do you, like me, find it an immutable law of progress that three people always, but always, dog your every footstep. Peter, Judas, and Pilate are the three most common companions to progress. I am so surprised Bunyan didn’t have these three in his Pilgrims Progress. They are almost the most certain things in life after taxes and death.

Take Peter as an example. At journeys end, he proved to be the Rock that Jesus said he would be. Yet along the way, when the going got a bit rough, he vehemently denied even knowing Jesus. “Not me,” he said, “Nothing to do with me. Not my idea. I did nothing. If anything was done, it was he that did it – NOT ME.” Peter turned about face and ran for cover as soon as the going got a bit tough. Yet Jesus had said, “You are Peter, the rock upon whom I will build My church.” Yet here was dear, blessed, but fallible Peter, turning and running instead of staying and protecting. How many Peter’s have you known in your life?

Next came Judas – the banker; one of the chosen twelve who stayed by Jesus throughout all of His ministry. Here was one you could, ironically, bank on. He was Mister reliable – he held the money and there is no story of him with his sticky fingers in the till. Yet here was one with a flaw – a serious, nay, fatal flaw. He really would do anything for money including selling his soul – Jesus to be precise – to the Roman authorities. Yet he was also oh so human. He had a conscience – why else would he commit suicide after betraying Jesus to the soldiers. Has someone done that to you at one time or another?

Finally there was Pontius Pilate – judge, jury, and executioner. As a Judge Pilate got it right. He found no wrong in Jesus and he said so. As a jury however, he allowed popular opinion to influence his verdict. Then as executioner, Pilate excelled himself. Instead of a quiet quick execution, as Herod gave John, Pilate allowed the most barbaric form of execution known to mankind to be perpetrated upon an innocent man. He knew what was right, yet he bowed to popular opinion and threw an innocent man to the wolves in order to preserve his own skin – which wasn’t in the slightest danger, by the way. We all know a Pilate, don’t we?

Yes, there will always be a Peter to deny you, a Judas to betray you and a Pilate to crucify you. So, if you can survive without the support of your personal Peter. If you can successfully defend yourself against a con-man who will certainly sell you down the river for his personal thirty pieces of silver. And if you can persuade your Pilate to stick to his decisions and not change his mind depending on which way the wind blows – Then you will be a survivor.

That’s what the world says isn’t it? Yet it’s not at all what God’s Word says. God’s Word says in Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Sure, you will encounter your three key friends-cum-betrayers in Peter, Judas, and Pilate, but you will be able to withstand and remain standing – ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven – AND more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus – our Saviour and Lord.