Talk about bodacious!
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus told Peter and the disciples that Zechariah 13:7 referred to them personally, and that it was going to happen shortly:

“All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,
for it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
(Mark 14:27-28)

You’d think that should settle it, especially for Peter. The One he properly identified as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” just told him that God’s Word would be fulfilled in their lives. Jesus even offered an assuring promise of His coming resurrection and their soon regathering after the crisis.

But Peter wasn’t okay with that. No, Peter had something for Jesus. He would prove to Him that Peter, not God was in control of this night. Peter, not God, would determine if Messiah should die. Peter, not God, would decide who would scatter and who wouldn’t.

“Hold on there Jesus, that’s not going to happen. Not on my watch. I will never forsake you.
These other weaklings might fold, but not me. I’m Peter, and I don’t need God!”

You have to give Peter credit. He tried to deliver on his boast. When the soldiers came into the garden to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out his ceremonial sword and cut off a soldier’s ear! That was a suicide mission if I ever read about one. A sure-fire way to either die in place or at least go to jail with Jesus!

I imagine Jesus looking at Peter with one of those, “You have got to be kidding me, Peter. You stand there with your little sword trying to change the mind of God, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the most climactic and decisive event in history?”

After Jesus told Peter to put down his sword and quit throwing his little “I don’t like what God is doing here” fit, the Lord compassionately healed the poor soldier’s ear. Then Jesus turned to the arresting contingent and says this: “But the Scriptures must be fulfilled” (Mark 14:49). Mark quickly makes sure we get the point in the next verse:

“Then they all forsook Him and fled.”

Mark rearranged the events of the night Jesus was betrayed to highlight the contrast between the way the disciples, led by Peter, dealt with the reality that Zechariah 13:7 was being fulfilled and the Lord Jesus’ reaction.

• The disciples responded by resisting, boasting, and living out of their strengths.

• Jesus dealt with that same reality by relying on His Father as He watched and prayed.

It was a tough lesson Peter learned that night:
You can’t control God, and He doesn’t need you to fix the things you think are broken in your life. Put down your little sword, Simon Peter. Jesus isn’t impressed. The Scriptures must be fulfilled.

Maybe it’s time for you to put your sword back in its sheath.

Maybe you’ve been asking Jesus to look at your sword, and hoping He’ll do what you want. Maybe you’re facing your dark night of life in the same way Peter did—by protesting and relying on your own strength which only results in a heap of tears and repentance, just like how it ended with Peter.

Instead, try relying on Jesus, and watching, and praying. The choice is yours. You can fix and fail, or trust and triumph.