The Apostle Peter

I had the opportunity recently to attend the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU where I saw 'Peter's Remorse.'

I had, of course, seen the color version... but it's different. And, it doesn't have the same impact on me.

I went into the room with the giant painting of the atonement and it was this little etching that caught my attention and held it. As everyone else was sitting on their chair, eyes forward, I was sitting on my chair looking to my left at this.

I have great love for Peter. Great love. He had so much passion (remember the ear?). He walked on water! He made mistakes, but at the end of the day he understood. He got it.

One of my favorite moments with Peter is when the Savior is washing his disciple's feet and Peter was having none of it. He said, "Thou needest not to wash my feet." But, when the Savior replied, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Peter understood the symbolism. He could never be clean without the washing that only the Savior could perform and so he said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."

And so, this etching makes me sad because I can really feel Peter's emotion thanks to the artistic genius of Carl Block and my understanding (limited though it may be) of Peter... but it also reminds me of the atonement in a much deeper way than that giant painting. And that makes me happy. And grateful.

2 Response to "The Apostle Peter"

  1. Whit, I loved this entry. You helped me to understand Peter a lot more. I've heard all of the stories about him; but to see them recaped succintly in one place really helped me to grasp his personality. Thanks! (PS: you've never met me but I love your podcast, it has made many dreary cleaning hours much more enjoyable!)

    Whit says:

    Oh, Rebecca - thanks for your sweet note!

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