One evening earlier this month – February 2010 as I was sitting in the back of our church, our youths were giving speeches on the love of God (my 12 year old daughter was one of them), my mind wandered to Peter; the first disciple Jesus chose; the one who went with Jesus everywhere; accompanied Jesus even during his most personal and emotionally charged moments. The same Peter denied knowledge of Christ during His trial – in the hour Christ most needed him. And yet, Christ following his death, after resurrection, and prior to his ascension to heaven, entrusted Peter with a tremendous responsibility - the care of his lambs and sheep, Christ's most valuable possession.
As I read through the gospel of John sitting on that back bench, Jesus was talking to his disciples of his coming trial, death by crucifixion and how he was to face it all by himself, Peter was quick to answer that he was going to be by his master's side all the way through and spoke of his willingness to die defending Christ. Let me share the scripture as it is written in the New Living Translation Bible...
John 13:36-38, Simon Peter said, "Lord where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can't go with me now, but you will follow me later." "But why can't I come now, Lord?" he asked. "I am ready to die for you." Jesus answered, "Die for me? No, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me."
{PS: Many a time we speak emotionally without taking full measure of the issue at hand. God knows that we will slip up. You may want to read of the cost of discipleship in Luke 15:25-33...it's a long journey to Glory Land! That's why the Bible cautions us to stay alert and pray continuously that we may not fall prey to the Tempter.}
Luke 22:31-34, adds the following before Jesus predicts Peter's denials three times... "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers." (The rest, vs. 33-34 paraphrases what we read in John 13:36-38)
{PS: You learn from your experience of failures in life and God's grace that saves. Strengthen and build up others through your experience with your testimonies and encouragement.}
Following the betrayal by Judas and Christ's arrest by the Roman soldiers, Jesus is brought to Annas – the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter had followed the crowd to Annas' compound, and the Bible says in...
John 18:15-18, 25-27, Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the courtyard with Jesus. Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, "Aren't you one of Jesus' disciples?" "No," he said, "I am not."
The guards and the household servants were standing around a charcoal fire they had made because it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself. Meanwhile, as Simon Peer was standing by the fire, they asked him again, "Aren't you one of his disciples?" "I am not," he said. But one of the household servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the Olive grove with Jesus?" Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
At that moment, Luke 22:61-62, says, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times.” And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.
{PS: remember when we make bold statements about what we will and won't do, it is important to remember that it is God's grace that prevents us from falling. Here we see a very repentant Peter once he realized his failure.}
Jesus still entrusted Peter, who had failed him at the hour he most needed him, with the tremendous responsibility of caring for his lambs and sheep. Do not give up on yourself after your fall, do not harden your heart. The Lord still cares for you! He has already paid the ultimate price for you and me. He sacrificed his life for our freedom from the bondage of sin. He looks to see what you can do for him. In Peter's case, we read in,
John 21:15-17, After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?
“Yes Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
Once more He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
{Though I screwed up by denying you three times at the hour you most needed me!}
Jesus said, “then feed my sheep.”
What sort of a shepherd do we have in Jesus?
Isaiah 40:11 says, He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
That evening as I sat there listening to our children's speech and reading to myself the scripture portions quoted above, it dawned on me, the profound love that Jesus had for the ones who failed him in his hour of need, at the most desperate of times. He asks Peter to be the shepherd that Jesus was to his sheep and lambs, his most valued possession, the ones he died on Calvary's cross for. To take care of them and feed them. Would you or I ever entrust our most valued possession to anyone who had betrayed our trust in them? This is the ultimate love and trust the Savior puts in you and I. Though we have come short many a times, his grace covers all our iniquities and he allows us to start afresh.
In times of trials, under tremendous stress, no man knows how he/she would react. Peter was someone who loved Jesus very dearly and fearlessly defended him. When Jesus called him to become a disciple, Peter did not give a second thought about his profession and means to earn a living as a fisherman. The same Peter had witnessed Jesus feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two fishes, and healing the sick. Peter was with Jesus when he raised up Lazarus, when he raised up Jairus' little girl. Peter saw Jesus walking on water. Peter knew Jesus had authority over all powers, elements and circumstances. Yet he faltered and denied Jesus when he saw Jesus undergoing his final trial. He may have doubted the power of Jesus as he witnessed this all powerful man, unable to help himself, though Jesus had warned his disciples of the coming sufferings to prepare them about his trial and death by crucifixion at the hands of men. Jesus had taught his disciples that these things had to happen so that mankind would have salvation. The Peter who whole heartedly believed without a doubt that Jesus was the son of God, faltered when his test of faith came. Self preservation is a deeply entrenched instinct within every man's heart and it makes us forget all we know and believe in. May our high priest - Jesus, find us worthy to continue to pray for us to the Father that our faith may not falter.
Please do not consider this as condoning any knowingly repeated sinful actions of man. For the Bible clearly states that those who knowingly sin, will be punished. In the old testament it says, it's an awful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Do not take his mercy and grace as a license to sin, foolishly expecting forgiveness no matter what. Yet, do not let Satan's lies separate you from his fold.
