Bible passage:
Before the denial: Luke 22: 31-33, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Mark 14: 29-31 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
The denial: Luke 22:54-62 Then they seized him [Jesus] and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
After the denial: John 21: 15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
The One who loves while the recipient is still a sinner: Peter more than once has tried telling Jesus that He was wrong, even emphatically! Peter thought he was better than others, that he loved Jesus a lot, and that he never would deny Jesus. It was this Peter that Jesus forgave, and never even asked Peter why he betrayed Him. Neither before nor after the denial. He never rebuked him, never showed grudges or resentment. The love of Jesus truly covered a multitude of sins.
The One who looks through the sin to the time of repentance: We all have hope only because Jesus is willing to forgive our sins when we repent, and look past them, and even forget them.
The One who looks to the offender, when anyone else would have looked away: In Revelation 19:12 it is written that Jesus' eyes are like blazing fire. 'And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.' Oh! What a moment! Our Lord Jesus was going through a very painful, dishonest trial before the Sanhedrin, yet, in all His pain, He took time to look at Peter, who probably felt like filth at the moment. When any human friend would want to look away in disgust, our Lord Jesus looks at Peter.
The One who offers restoration: What an opportunity of restoration did Jesus offer Peter! For the disciple who denied thrice, there was an opportunity to affirm thrice, and thrice there was a bestowal of authority and responsibility.
Let us then learn about intercession from Jesus: We know that Jesus' intercession for Peter was answered as we know that Peter's faith, at last, didn't fail. Peter as he confessed, did go to prison and did die for the Lord albeit a little later than he would have thought.
Jesus was willing to love Peter - before, during, and after the denial. Jesus' warning also offered a hopeful statement of return and repentance. Jesus offered an opportunity for complete renewal and restoration to an elevated position, after such grievous sin. It takes such a love to intercede for a friend who has hurt you, when the accuser is waiting, rather even demanding for his/ her soul.
Prayer points:
Praise God for our Saviour who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God.
Pray that God will give us a heart of forgiveness that is willing not just to forgive, but intercede for those who have sinned against us.
Pray that God will fill us with His love, that we will intercede like Jesus did, for those who have betrayed or hurt us.
Pray that God will fill us with hope, that we are able to look for repentance and restoration of the person who has gone astray.
If you can, try memorizing Luke 22:31,32.
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