The Bystander Effect
"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.’ "
Acts 2:14
Fifty days after the Resurrection, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Twelve Apostles. On Pentecost Sunday, Peter boldly declared Jesus as the Messiah. However, Peter wasn't always bold in his faith in Jesus. Peter denied any association with Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Peter was a bystander as his mentor was accused of blasphemy and sedition by the Sanhedrin council.
Peter, afraid and ashamed in his moment of weakness, reminds us how easy it is to become frozen bystanders. Consider how many times we go on social media and watch videos of bystanders holding up their smartphones to record someone getting hurt instead of helping. Often, the presence of other people causes a diffusion of responsibility, the "bystander effect". When we are among a crowd of people, we tend to get nervous about taking crucial actions because we're too concerned about making the wrong move or looking foolish. We hope someone else will step in and fix the situation. Waiting on someone else "more qualified" or for the "perfect moment" to act can be a dangerous or regretful decision, leaving us to wonder what blessings we may have missed out on. How many times do we tell ourselves, "Oh, if only I had asked her out," or "I'll be more courageous next time", or "What if I offend them if I tell them how Jesus Christ died for our sins?” It is fear that holds us back from reaching our potential and from receiving His blessings.
Now, consider how Peter regretted his decision to deny Jesus, whom he had professed undying loyalty to, especially as he realized that Jesus had prophesied he would do so. Peter was guilt-ridden after the crucifixion of Jesus, and yet, Peter would still be redeemed. After he had returned to his life as a fisherman in Galilee, Peter, along with some of the other disciples, were coming back from an unsuccessful fishing trip when Jesus Christ appeared on the shore. The disciples did not initially recognize Jesus. Jesus asked them about their poor catch and instructed them to throw their net again into the waters. They caught a miraculous amount of fish and that's when Peter recognized who they were talking to. Peter jumped off the ship to eagerly swim to his resurrected mentor. This moment not only echoes how Peter had previously been on an unsuccessful fishing trip that unexpectedly turned in his favor when he first met Jesus. It also shows how Peter attempted to walk on water towards Jesus only to sink when he fearfully allowed himself to become a bystander to the violent storm waves.
After having breakfast with their restored Lord, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him three times, which Peter confessed to without hesitation. Jesus responded "feed my sheep" each time. This would foreshadow how Peter would go on to shepherd the "sheep" into Jesus's flock, sowing the seeds that would become the church and fulfilling the promise Jesus had made to him when he first met Peter. Jesus told Peter he would make him into a "fisher of men".
What Peter shows us is how important it is to stand boldly on our faith in a sea of bystanders. When God calls us, we can’t allow ourselves to become bystanders. We each possess a unique touch, voice, and perspective that allow us to become a testimony for someone; a testimony that could guide someone back into Jesus's flock. To allow ourselves to be held back by fear is to waste those talents that could one day make all the difference from sinking or swimming. Faith without fear by taking action and effecting change is key to help build and grow the Kingdom of Heaven for us all.
Prayer: Father, we don’t want to be bystanders. We pray for boldness. We don’t want to miss our moment. Father, please bless us with opportunities for boldness and moments to stand as Peter and the Eleven did. Amen.