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Matthew 26:30-35
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. |
J C Ryle writes: “Men fall in private, long before they fall in public. The tree falls with a great crash, but the secret decay which accounts for it, is often not discovered till it is down on the ground.”
So, what was really wrong with Peter that only GOD knew? I imagine him as a big friendly chap, a natural leader who was not overly cowardly but did have fear of man. He tended to be a bit over confident and spoke without thinking. What Peter did when he denied Jesus three times was bad, especially calling down oaths and curses. Peter did not love Jesus with all that was within him.
Peter’s night of bitter tears proved that he was a true disciple but how he must have searched his heart and wished that he could turn the clock back. The long night was followed by the pain of the Crucifixion, then the hope of the Resurrection, and at last the joy of Restoration.
In John 21 we read that for each of Peter’s three denials he had to tell Jesus that he loved Him and Jesus commissioned him to feed His sheep. I like to think that Jesus finished by giving Peter a hug. Peter would later write how precious Jesus was.
Because Peter was forgiven much, he loved much.
“Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4: 11
‘The glory is not in the task, but in the doing it for Him’ (Jean Ingelow 1820 – 1897)
Mima W