(I wrote this on my other blog yesterday, but I get more traffic here and I so want people to know the beauty of forgiveness, so I’m posting it here as well.)
Peter. A guy after my own heart. In desperate need of grace and mercy. He had a quick temper and a quick tongue, both of which seemed to bypass his brain when acting out and speaking.
Take, for instance, when he chopped off a guy’s ear in defense of Jesus. Now, it’s sweet that he felt so protective of Jesus, but somehow his mind didn’t go to the fact that Jesus was indeed the son of God and didn’t need violence on His behalf. Jesus corrects Peter and graciously and miraculously heals this “enemy’s” ear.
And while Peter’s loyalty is noble, that same loyalty seems to go out the window hours later when he denies Jesus three times. Flat out denies Him. Which seems shocking, doesn’t it? Until we look at ourselves and think, “oh, wait…”.
Peter denied Jesus three times. That seems so terrible when we read the story because it all happens so blatantly in such a short period of time. And this was a who LOVED Jesus! And then I look at me. At my bad behavior, my terrible attitude and realize I haven’t just denied Jesus three times, I’ve done it countless times! Every time I don’t trust Him either in my actions or in my thoughts and attitudes, I am denying that He is who says He is. I’m declaring that I don’t believe that He works all things together for my good. I’m basically stating that I know what He’s said but I’m sure my situation is the exception to His rule (in every sense of the word). I am denying His power and wisdom and truth in my life.
BUT….
Did Jesus dismiss Peter after he did something so awful? Did He say that because of his poor behavior he could no longer be a follower or have an impactful ministry? Hardly! Peter became the rock on which the first church was built.
Matthew 16:18 ”Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Jesus did something else that looks like questioning, but was meant to reinforce the doubt that Peter probably had in himself at this point:
5 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. … Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Three times Jesus asked if Peter loved Him. The same number of times that Peter had denied Him. Jesus already knew that Peter loved him. But He wanted to let Peter know that He still wanted His company (‘follow me’) and that He still had a ministry for him of loving others (‘feed my sheep’). He was reinstating Peter. He was telling Him that He was forgiven and that their relationship and Peter’s mission were restored.
This gives me such hope. Jesus wasn’t done with Peter because he sinned. He continued to use Peter because that failure changed Peter’s heart. It tenderized him. It humbled him. It reminded him that he was human. And it prepared his heart by breaking it, for a greater ministry than he would have ever thought possible. Peter saw Jesus in a new way. With more love than ever.
Jesus hates sin. But He hates it for more reasons than just the fact that He is sinless and holy. He hates it because He knows what it does to the heart. The damage it does to relationships. The direction it takes a person’s soul. Jesus’ motivation in revealing those things in our lives that need changing is not condemnation but the desire for our hearts to experience real, true life. Deep love is the source of any and every correction. Restoration is His only goal.
And suddenly, I love Peter all the more…
