Two Kinds of Boldness

"When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:18

Both Peter and John drew one quality from the same source. Boldness. They both were bold because they had been with Jesus. Yet it wasn't of the same kind. When Christ gives the same gift to two people, He doesn't make them the same person. The light that shines on the mountain comes from the same sun that shines on the stream. But who would mistake the two? The boldness of John and Peter is just that different. They are not only different; they are, in some ways, opposite. Peter has the courage that moves; John has the courage that waits. Peter is a man of activity; John is a man of ponderance. Peter drew the sword; John lay on the bosom. Peter crosses the water to meet Jesus; John waits until the Lord comes into the boat. Peter runs into the sepulcher where the body of Jesus was laid; John merely lingers, holding the image of hope in his heart.

Christ designed both boldnesses. And probably many beside. The point is, there are times when His kingdom requires courage of the arm (the power to do), and there are times He requires courage of the heart (the power to wait). Life has both its Galilean seas and its Patmos islands. There is a place for working and a place for waiting. Both require courage.

If I were pressed, I would say that John's courage was greater. There are men who can be bold on Galilee who could never be bold on Patmos. It is comparatively easy to have courage when everyone is watching. It inspires boldness, and for good reason! Yet to have courage in the moment of isolation, when no one is watching, is a stronger kind of mettle. And isn't this our own experience? Our boldest moments are our Patmos moments. The deepest struggles we have, have been in the wilderness. The duty often required then is this, the boldness to wait. “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:37.