Peter’s Denial

Matthew tells us that as Jesus is taken in before the high priest, “Peter followed Him at a distance.”

Aren’t we guilty of that? Of following Jesus at a distance? Afar off?

Peter, it seems, has begun to rethink his previous commitments. Earlier, he was certain that he was ready to join Jesus in prison or in death — Now, he’s not so sure.

When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” —Luke 22:56–57 CSB

These words must have felt so strange coming from his lips. He’s devoted his life and gave up his career, to follow Jesus.

After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. —Luke 22:58–62 CSB

When the Rooster Crows

You see, I wonder if Peter felt a twinge of guilt every time he heard a rooster crow?

Every time a rooster crowed, it was depressing reminder how greatest failure.

The enemy wants to condition your reflexes with guilt, but Jesus Christ came to recondition our reflexes with His amazing grace.

Turning Back

“Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.” —Luke 22:31–34 CSB

This is the statement that flies to the front of Peter’s cerebral cortex as Jesus looks him in the eye and rooster crows following his third denial.

But this wasn’t Jesus’s only prediction… look again:

“Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” —Luke 22:31–32 CSB

In the same conversation that Jesus tells Peter he will deny knowing Him three times, Jesus also prepares the way for Peter to turn back to Him and pick up his mission.

Going Fishing

Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. —John 21:2–3 CSB

Fishing wasn’t simply Peter’s hobby, fishing used to be Peter’s life. Fishing is what Peter was doing the day Jesus first called him to be a disciple over three years ago — and Peter had left everything behind to become a “fisher of men.”

Now, Peter is back on a boat, fishing for fish, and I wonder if he’s simply given up…

When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore… —John 21:4 CSB

(See John 21:1-19 for greater context.)

Grace

Peter denied Him three times, but three times Jesus recommissioned him: Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Jesus didn’t just come to reconcile us to God, He came to recommission us, for us to be part of this thing called the kingdom of God.

The good news is that there is forgiveness and freedom because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Jesus came to recondition your spiritual reflexes with His grace.

Summary

The enemy wants to condition your reflexes with guilt, but Jesus Christ came to recondition our reflexes with His amazing grace. He’s made the unforgiveable; forgivable.