I think one of the most difficult experiences in the earthly life of Jesus was when Peter denied knowing Him. To comprehend the full impact Peters denial must have had on Jesus, we have to understand their relationship. Peter can at best be described as impetuous and rambunctious. He was impulsive and hot-headed; a man who couldnt keep his mouth shut and behaved according to his own perception of things even when his perception was distorted. He was arrogant and conceited and overly sure of himself. He even had the unmitigated gaul to consider himself authorized to regulate the behavior of Jesus. Near journeys end as Jesus began to regularly engage in crucifixion discussion, Peter spoke up and spoke out. Mathew says Peter began to rebuke Jesus saying: "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" Matthew 16:22. Jesus had to tell him, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23. His self conceit blinded him to his own weakness. You remember when he told Jesus, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." Matthew 26:33-35. And yet, before that night had passed, this boastful, self reliant disciple denied his Lord 3 times. Yet, Jesus and Peter had a unique kind of loving relationship. In fact, Scripture depicts Jesus as speaking to Peter more often than to any other disciple; sometimes in praise, other times in admonition. No disciple is so strongly reproved by our Lord as was Peter and no other disciple dare to reprove Jesus. No other among the twelve so boldly confessed, openly acknowledged and encouraged Jesus as Peter repeatedly did. Likewise, no other disciple ever intruded, interfered, and tempted Jesus so repeatedly as did Peter. Jesus spoke words of approval and praise and even blessing to Peter the likes of which He never spoke to any other. At the same time and almost in the same breath, he said harder things to Peter than he ever said to any of the other disciples (except perhaps Judas). Peter loved Jesus and Jesus loved him. Remember, it was Peter who, when Jesus said, Follow me immediately jumped up and said, good-bye fish, Im going with Jesus. He knew who Jesus really was. He knew Jesus was not just one of the prophets, but heavens love and earths Savior. He said to Jesus one day, I know who you are, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And when the multitude rejected the teachings of Jesus and walked away, Jesus looked at the 12 and asked, Will you also go away? It was Peter who spoke for the all of them when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68. And dont forget that it was Peter who on the Mount of Transfiguration said, Lord it is good for us to be here. Matthew 17:4. Peter loved Jesus. But there are 2 things that awakened Peter to the consciousness of his guilt and unless we are awakened by these same 2 things, we are doomed to failure and eternal separation from God. The cock crowing woke Peter up. Jesus look changed his heart. It was these two moments in time that made Peter realize his own weakness, his guilt, his inability on his own to even do things he really wanted to do, without the power of God enabling him. Peter was not a hypocrite, just arrogant and self-reliant. When he heard the cock crow, he remembered Jesus words that he would deny him and remembered his own that he would not. When he saw the painful, disappointed look on Jesus face as He was being led to His destiny, and when he fully realized what he had done, Peter cried. I can imagine what Peter must have felt like because that is what being conscious of sin does to you. It grieves you, it hurts you, it deeply pains you because you can see Jesus going to the cross in your stead, and yet we deny Him in so many ways. We boast like Peter that we will go all the way, but we deny Him (lust, pride, selfishness, time, talents, etc.). Peter cried. And I believe that it was at that moment that Peter truly became the Rock Man. His tears were the beginning of a repentance that never ended. Out of the tomb of denial, Peter emerges a new man, a mighty rock man for Jesus. Jesus loved Peter and forgave Him. He looked beyond Peters faults and failures. He saw beyond what Peter (Simon) was to what he would become. We know this because on resurrection morning when Jesus arose from the grave, He told certain women to Go tell my disciples and Peter to meet me in Galilee. He calls Peter by name. The cursing, impetuous fisherman became the loyal preacher. He was Gods preacher at Pentecost when 3,000 souls put on the whole armor of God. He was Gods preacher before the Sanhedrin. Peter became one of Gods shining stars in a dark world. Have you heard the cock crow? Have you looked in the face of Jesus? |
