You know my wife and I often discuss this topic of the disciples little misdemeanors here and there. When Jesus washed the disciples feet Peter bojected. Now this was after Jesus has just refreshed the disciples of who He was and why he had come. Jesus says to Peter, "Don't worry you will know soon." In the garden Peter attacks a soldier and after the crucifixion he denies Jesus. When Jesus enters the upper room after his ressurection all the disciples which included Peter were astonished. Remember the Holy Spirit had not yet come but later near the end of Luke Jesus ancourages them by giving them instruction of where to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. AAfter the day of Pentecost, the disciples particulary Peter were different men. I use ton wonder why this was the case. I realised that the disciples dealt with their particulars and particulars could mean an atom an idea or a man and they would deal with them isolated from the God who was there. The Holy Spirit had not yet come and Jesus relaised this in the Gospel of John so understood the apparent vagueness shown by the disciples. However after Pentecost Peter is asked for money and in response heals a crippled man. Also as he walked past people and his shadow was cast over them, they were healed. Now we know that it had little to do with Peter's cloths or his shadow because God alone heals. So what was the difference between Peter prior to Pentecost and after I asked myself? Peter now understood two key things. First the Holy Spirit was a default presence which mean the gifts of the Holy Spirit were also a presence. Second Peter understood the Pentecost marked the second portion and the completion of the Abrahamic covenant. The Abrahamic covenant included four elements. A race, a Nation, land (Cannan) and the blessing of the gentiles through the seed of Abraham. When Israel were in Egypt they were there because the iniquity of the Amorite had not yet reached its fullness. When it had God raised up Moses and later Joshua lead the Nation of Israel accross the Jordan and the physical portion of the Abrahamic covenant was sealed. At Pentecost the peter proclaimed the blessing now extended to the gentile peoples. So Peter understood these two key elements as the two sides of the same apple and God responed accordingly as Peter expected. Finally I think the moral for us today from what I have shared here is the prior to Pentecost Peter and the disciples could be forgiven for bumbling here and there. Why? Because they began on the other side of Pentecost. In the foot washing passage in John Jesus tells the disciples that they would understand later because Jesus was referring to the comimg of the Holy Spirit. So if Peter and the disciples can be excused for bumbling along, where does that leave the church of Jesus Christ today who are on the right side of Pentecost? From Abraham to the Jordan crossing was 600 years and the Land element of the promise was sealed. However to the day of Pentecost where the gentile peoples entered into the promise took roughly 1500 years. So here the first two fresh-holds concerning the promise are complete. The final thresh-hold is the return of Jesus Christ. So far the gap in years has been over 2000. Christian's understand the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and assume he is still here. Yet it seems the church sometimes behaves as if it too is separated from the God who is there as the disciples were when Jesus washed their feet that night and their understanding was vague. I've just fifnished reading Adolf Schlatter's book "A Theology of the Apostles" which gives some really interesting insights into the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. Schlatter is consider by many of the worlds top theologians as the best New Testament theologian in the last 150 years. Unfortunately his work is rarely read in the Western church because it has only recently been translated into English. I believe he wrote over 300 books in his life tiem whic is exceptional by anyones standards.