Peter – Rock or Renegade?

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:61-62

These verses of scripture follow Peter’s denial of Jesus after Jesus’ arrest by the High Priest. Peter’s denial was born out of fear. Fear of what man would think of him, say about him and do to him. This fear was instilled in him by Satan, whom Jesus had said would sift him and try to separate him from Jesus Himself. But Jesus had already interceded for Peter. He prayed that Peter would not turn from Him, but would be there for his fellow believers to encourage and strengthen them (Luke 22:31-32).

When Jesus looked at Peter (Luke 22:61), Peter realised what he had done. He was immediately filled with remorse. He was overcome with sorrow. He felt like a failure. Peter, the rock crumbled under the weight of his shame and guilt. But Jesus had already made a way for Him to be set free from the shame and guilt and to forgive him. Jesus demonstrated this when He went to the cross a few days later, not only to free Peter, but all of mankind from sin and condemnation (John 3:16-17).

Free and Forgiven

There may have been events in our own lives that have caused us to deny Jesus. We may have faced others who don’t believe in Jesus or believe in the existence of a creator God. Our fear of what they will think of us or how they will treat us may have caused us to be silent about our belief in Jesus Christ or even deny that we are believers in Christ.

We may have denied Him by being disobedient to what He is calling us to do. We fear that His calling or will for our lives will take us out of our comfort zone. We fear what others will say if we follow Jesus’ will for our lives.

We may have denied Jesus when we did not involve Him in our decision-making. Instead, we used our own wisdom and did what we believed was good for us.

Just as Peter’s fears, weaknesses and failures did not define him, so our fears, weaknesses and failures do not define us. Peter allowed Jesus to define Him when He called him “The rock.” The rock upon which He would build His church. Just as Jesus forgave Peter, so He forgives us. He doesn’t point an accusatory finger at us and tell us how bad we are. He sets us free from our shame and condemnation. He defines us and says we are: Free, Forgiven, Chosen, Loved with an everlasting love. He says to us, as He said to Peter, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:18-22).

Our Christian life began not with our decision to follow Christ but with God's call to us to do so. John Stott

Reflection

Have there been times in your life when you may have denied Jesus in any way?  Remember that Jesus has forgiven you and set you free from guilt and shame so that you can follow Him. Will you accept his challenge?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for setting me free from guilt and shame when You died on the cross for me. Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I denied You. I pray that my failures and fears will not define me. Show me, Lord, who I am in You so that I may walk in my identity in You. Help me have the courage to be obedient to what You are calling me to do. I submit to Your will for my life and follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.