LUKE 22: 31-34
At the passover supper we find Jesus speaking to Peter
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me
Here we see that Jesus already knew that Peter would fail and he would deny Jesus. Yet, I love how Jesus says to Peter that He had prayed for him and when he turns back to strengthen his brothers. Even though Jesus knew Peter would fail, He also knew that there would be restoration and that God would use Peter for great things.
Down in verse 60-62, we find sure enough that Peter fails the test. And he denys Jesus three times.
Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter had a lot of pride and had believed he would never fail Jesus. In this moment of fear or anxiety we find Peter did indeed deny Jesus even though he boasted he would die for Him. I am sure the look Jesus gave Peter was a look not of condemnation or even dissapointment but a look of compassion and hope. Jesus wouldn't have been dissapointed because He already knew Peter would fail. I am sure in that moment when Peter realized what he had done his heart broke because he thought he had blown it. How quickly the enemy must have come in and told Peter that Jesus would never love him or trust him again. But I love this chapter because we realize that God already knows our failures and our shortcomings yet through Jesus He sees great potential in us.
Then my favorite part!!! Jesus brings restoration to Peter
In John 21 we have an account of Jesus speaking to Peter. This is after Jesus has risen from the dead.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me? He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Here Jesus pours the healing oil over Peter. For every denial He asks Peter if He loves Him. Three times Peter denied Christ and three times he tells Jesus he loves Him. Then Jesus gives Peter hope that now he will be able to pass the test and one day die for Christ as he once had boasted. Then He gives him the command to follow.
This time Peter would. It didn't mean he would never fail again or make mistakes mind you but Peter had been restored by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
This whole account flooded my mind this morning. How easily we agree with the enemy and dwell in our own condemnation. If we fail the test God has set before us we go off and weep bitterly. But God knows we will fail. He knows we are made of dust. He knows! When Peter failed it was because he was looking at his own ability, and his own strength. But when he looked to the Lord for strength he was able to endure.
God looks at our heart. He doesn't look at our size, our strength, our own wisdom or education. This is clearly taught all through scripture as we see God choose David to be king. David, the smallest of all his brothers! Just a young lad. Or Samuel, whom God raised to be a prophet when he was just a servant boy to the high priest. Or Gideon, a man to afriad to offer his sacrifice to God in the daylight for fear of what would happen to him. But yet God used him to lead a mighty army. God KNOWS our weaknesses. Will you fail? Yes...there will be times that you fail. But it's your heart that God looks at. If you are truly in love with Him and serving Him with all your mind, all your might, all your soul that is what counts. Do we condem our children for making mistakes? NO! We bring correction but we do not hold it against them when they fail. Well, how much more does God love us then we love our children? TONS!!!
So if you are caught in condemnation, beating yourself up over past mistakes or even the past in general. STOP! The truth is if we are doing that we are just being prideful. Why? Because we believe we should have been better then that. Sorry but we are not. We are sinners saved by grace! Yea...ouch! But it's true. Instead look to the Lord and He will lift you up! It's only through the Lord's strength, wisdom, power, grace, mercy, & love that we can overcome.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8: 1-4
