Peter wept bitterly as he thought back through the events of the night.
“Peter, this very night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times,” Jesus said as he and the other disciples trekked to the Mount of Olives.
“Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” Peter declared. Yet a few hours later he had done exactly that as he stood in the high priest’s courtyard. “Woman, I don’t even know the man!” He heard the rooster crow and his gaze met Christ’s. Shocked, he staggered back from the fire and ran. Now, Peter was left to ponder how Jesus could still look at him with such love even though he had denied him three times.
Christ knew Peter was going to fail him, yet he kept on loving him. He doesn’t tell Peter “Get out of here. You’re no longer my disciple.” Instead he said, “Watch and pray with me.”
Christ knew us all before the beginning of time. He knew our strengths and weaknesses, our successes and our failures. He knew the sinful creatures we would be, and still he chose to die for us. Why? Because he loves us that much. For some that’s hard to grasp. We have had such terrible things done to us that no one could possibly love us. But Christ does! Believe it, and embrace his love for you today.
Debra L. Butterfield © 2010. For the full scoop on Peter’s denial read Luke 22:31-62.
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