Peter’s Promise

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
March 27, 2024
John 13:33 + 37-38

Here we are in the middle of Holy Week and I am anticipating a wonderful Easter celebration. I am conscious though, that I should not move to quickly to the empty tomb without spending this time remembering the price Jesus paid for my sin. It is hard for me to think about such physical abuse as my Savior endured. It is hard for me to be still and allow myself to hear the cries for the pain my sin caused him. It is hard for me to bring a message to hurting people about the hurt sin brings, and even harder to bring that message to people who seemingly, aren’t hurting at all. So today, I am asking myself; Do I love to tell the story, the whole story? I want to.

Today, I am looking at the story of Peter’s denial of Christ. It must have even surprised Peter that he could do such a thing. Here, he had devoted himself fully to the Lord and often was the first to speak up, step up, and yes, even step in. Then something happens, he couldn’t wrap his mind around, and, well, he does exactly what Jesus said he would do: “Will you really lay your life down for me? I tell you the truth before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

A Sunday school lesson I recently read about this part of Holy week gave me some heavy food for thought; “What about us? How easily do we fail? Our silence, our lifestyles, our words, our friendships and our attitudes often deny Jesus just a blatantly as Peter’s declaration in John 18 that he was not a follower of Jesus. When we realize we have failed, our task is not to stay in that place. We must return to Christ. Peter returned to Christ and discovered Jesus eager to affirm him and give him a special assignment. (See John 21:15-22.)

Try taking some time this Holy Week to notice when you have failed Him, ask for forgiveness, and then look for your Holy assignment. I’ll be looking too .

Amen!