For Peter’s Sake!

All four of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell of the story about Peter’s denial of Jesus and Jesus foretelling Peter the very time he would do it.

Luke 22:34 “Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Peter, who had adamantly professed his allegiance, even to death, fell. The same man who was willing to walk out on a stormy lake, could not see his way out of a girl’s pressing question. One time, two times, and then this girl who caught him warming his hands by a fire, she was the one to take him down. The rooster crows and Peter’s heart breaks. Broken by none other than his own betrayal to truth.

One account, the one told by Luke has a sentence added that the other three Gospels do not say. One can only wonder why Luke is the only one of the disciples that wrote of this. Possibly as a physician he noticed things others did not. God knows, and God saw fit that it made it into Luke’s Gospel.

Luke 22:61 “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”

Oh, how powerful that look must have been! Can you imagine it? Peter had just done the very thing he told the Lord he would never do, deny him. His friend, his confidante, his Savior. Maybe this sentence resonates with me as I have felt the “look” of the Lord when I have felt so sure of my faith and have fallen. Having a form of godliness and yet denying it’s power.

How wonderful the love of Jesus that went to the Cross, and later on a sandy beach, met Peter again. This time, giving comfort and the call to go forward again, restoring Peter, for Peter’s sake.

God was not ready to let Peter’s story end on the day of his denial of Jesus, and friend, he isn’t ready to let yours end there, either.