Monday, March 6, 2017
Luke 22:59-62 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
IT HAPPENED ON GOOD FRIDAY: PETER WEPT
What a glorious confession of Jesus Peter had made on two previous occasions. When others had abandoned Jesus and He asked the disciples if they planned to desert Him too, Peter declared: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe You are God's Holy One." Another time, when Jesus asked the disciples "Who do you say that I am?" Peter quickly responded: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered: "How blessed you are, Peter! This is a truth you couldn't discover your own. My Father revealed it to you."
So far so good. But now in the courtyard of Caiaphas Peter's spiritual life took a turn for the worse. Jesus had warned him that he was headed for a fall. Peter had begged to differ: "No way!" he said. "I'll not turn my back on You even if all others do!" His two-fold blunder was overestimating his own strength and putting himself in a position where his faith would be tested. Sadly and predictably, he failed the test. Afraid for his life, not wanting others to think ill of him, he caved to the pressure and denied having any connection to Jesus.
There are several lessons we may learn from this story. First, we like Peter have reason to praise God for His mercy in revealing His Son to us and leading us to confess Him as our only Savior. We couldn't have done it on our own. We also learn of the need we have to look to Jesus for strength to overcome the temptations of the devil, the world, and our flesh. We dare not trust in our own might. If we do, like Peter, we're headed for a disastrous fall. Especially if we expose ourselves to situations and circumstances where we know our faith will be put to the test.
Another lesson, perhaps the most important: as Peter was led by the Savior to repent of his denial-sin with bitter tears, trusting in the Lord's forgiveness, so we may look to Him in repentant faith for the forgiveness of our sins, knowing we have it, and then letting the Savior's forgiving love be our strength and motivation for walking with Him more closely each day.
Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love, Let us do the Father's bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 409:1)
