A Bolstered Return

Walking with true conviction is something that is grown over time. Often there’s a fall or a wrong turn involved where we step away from our original pointed intention, however, upon return – it’s for the better. Peter’s story in the New Testament has hints of this sort of experience.

The last time Jesus and His disciples would be sitting at table sharing a meal together Peter presented himself as one walking with conviction. Peter tells Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). To which Jesus tells him that before the rooster crows the following morning, he will have denied Jesus three times.

Peter, I’m sure filled with befuddlement, couldn’t believe the words he was hearing. But sure enough, later that night, Jesus would be secretly arrested, “tried,” and sentenced to death. And Peter had three opportunities to declare his allegiance to his teacher and friend – denying Him every time.

As Peter follows Jesus from a distance that night, people recognize him and ask if he is one of Jesus’ disciples. To which Peter says, no, no, and the third time “he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:74). John’s gospel says, “And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord … And he went out and wept bitterly” (John 22:60-62).

What Jesus prophesied about Peter just hours earlier had come true. Peter had denied his best friend, all within earshot, and Jesus turned and looked at him. I can’t imagine what that look was like. We know God is love, so surely it was one of compassion, but Jesus was also human and His heart was able to be broken too – it must have held some of that sentiment as well.

Peter feels this look to his very core – and he’s broken, ashamed and scared. The night progresses into the story we all know, an innocent man is condemned to die a sinner’s death. Jesus, willingly, goes to the cross where He dies.

What Jesus also told Peter before the prediction of his denial was this, “… I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, but what He’s praying on Peter’s behalf is that upon repenting and turning back to God that he would walk in his name’s calling – be the rock of the early church.

Three days later the full power of God is revealed, and Jesus breaths the breath of resurrection. On that morning, three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome go to the tomb with spices, the stone is rolled away and they see two angels telling them that Jesus has resurrected, and they give the ladies a specific charge, “Go tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee” (Mark 16:7). 

Those three days were horrible for anyone who had followed Jesus, but how much more for Peter when the last look he had of his friend was one of denial and betrayal. So, with specificity the angels give one person by name to tell the good news of the resurrection to – Peter.

With compassion, forgiveness, and a love outside our understanding, Jesus receives Peter back, and he goes on to be the rock of the early church. He’s given a fourth opportunity to declare his allegiance to Jesus a few decades later and he won’t deny his teacher a fourth time. His fully convicted allegiance to his friend would cost him his life and he would be crucified upside down for he did not count himself worthy to die the same way as his Savior had. 

Friend, God is filled with grace and forgiveness. He is able to flip our bad decisions and our falling away into new opportunities for Him to show us His redeeming power. So often it’s the being lifted back up from the rock-bottom that serves as a concreting bolstering of our faith. Maybe you find yourself having denied your Savior today, you need only return to Him. His grace is sufficient. Let God take even the schemes of the enemy over your life and the ways you may have partnered with evil and let Him turn it for good. He is willing and able. All we are to do – is return.