It was to Peter a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly, that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. The disciple shrank from fellowship with his Lord in suffering. But in the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its blessing. Long afterward, when his active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he wrote, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12, 13.

Det var en bitter lære for Peter, og han lærte den kun langsomt, at Kristi vej på jorden førte gennem kval og ydmygelse. Disciplen veg tilbage fra at være fælles med sin Herre om lidelsen. Men i ildprøvens hede skulle han komme til at lære dens velsignelse at kende. Længe efter, da hans kraftige skikkelse var bøjet af årenes og arbejdets byrde, skrev han: "I elskede, I skal ikke undre jer over den ildprøve, I gennemgår, som om det var noget mærkeligt, der hændte jer. Nej, jo mere I får del i Kristi lidelser, des mere skal I glæde jer, så I også kan glæde og fryde jer, når hans herlighed åbenbares" 1Pet. 4,12-13.