“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:31-33, 54-62, NRSV)
Have you ever had a moment where you felt like you were on top of the world and you would be able to do anything? That is where Peter is at the beginning of the reading. He tells Jesus he is ready to go to prison and to death with Him. And yet just a little while later his preservation kicks in and he denies knowing Jesus. He looks out for himself rather than leaning on the faith he has in Jesus.
Have you ever done that? Let a religious tainted joke go by without a comment? Or let someone make a remark about another group of people without standing up for them? Maybe you’ve even told a religious slanted joke…
Peter, the rock, denied he knew Jesus. He was ready to die for what they were doing, yet he slipped. You my friend are in good company when you fall back into your human ways. That doesn’t mean we would not react as Peter did and weep over our sin, but even in our weeping God sees us, and had compassion for us. And just as Jesus restored Peter, He will restore you if you only turn and ask Him to forgive you.
aSacredRebel 