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est predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Imagine being<br />
part of an HR department of a company, tasked with finding a future<br />
CEO to take over the business from a retiring leader. You’re going<br />
through a so-far very mixed CV, when you read a summary of the<br />
person’s most recent events and underlying character traits:<br />
• Prone to massively over-promise Responding to Jesus’<br />
declaration that all the disciples would desert him, Peter replied:<br />
‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’ But Jesus knew<br />
better and made this painful declaration: ‘Truly, I tell you…this very<br />
night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’<br />
Undeterred, Peter said to him, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will<br />
never disown you!’ (Matthew 26:33–35).<br />
• Tendency to sleep on the job at the most critical moments<br />
While Jesus was praying agonising prayers in the Garden of<br />
Gethsemane, Peter, along with the other disciples, kept falling<br />
asleep, leading to this rebuke: ‘Simon…are you asleep? Couldn’t<br />
you keep watch for one hour?’ (Mark 14:37) – evidently not!<br />
• Gets violent under pressure When a detachment of soldiers and<br />
officials from the religious leaders arrived with Judas to arrest<br />
Jesus, Peter struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his<br />
right ear! I can only imagine the response of the disciples: ‘Even for<br />
you, Peter, that’s going too far!’ Jesus of course rebuked him and<br />
then healed the man’s ear (John 18:10–11; Luke 22:51).<br />
• Capitulates under fear of public opinion Worst of all, while<br />
waiting during Jesus’ trial, Peter was questioned about his<br />
association with his master. Three times he denied he even knew<br />
him. He began to ‘call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t
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