Peter by Pastor Tracie Nanna | Part 4

WORD
Luke 22:54-62 The Passion Translation            The religious leaders seized Jesus and led Him away, but Peter followed from a safe distance. They brought Him to the home of the high priest, where people were already gathered out in the courtyard. 55 Someone had built a fire, so Peter inched closer and sat down among them to stay warm.
                        56 A girl noticed Peter sitting in the firelight. Staring at him, she pointed him out and said, “This man is one of Jesus’ disciples!”
57 Peter flatly denied it, saying, “What are you talking about, girl? I don’t know Him!”
58 A little while later, someone else spotted Peter and said, “I recognize you. You’re one of His, I know it!”
            Peter again said, “I’m not one of His disciples.”
                        59 About an hour later, someone else identified Peter and insisted he was a disciple of Jesus, saying, “Look at him! He’s from Galilee, just like Jesus. I know he’s one of them.”
                        60 But Peter was adamant. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you understand? I don’t even know Him.” While the words were still in his mouth, the rooster crowed.
                        61 At that moment, the Lord, who was being led through the courtyard by His captors,[b turned around and gazed at Peter. All at once Peter remembered the words Jesus had prophesied over him, “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.” 62 Peter burst into tears, ran off from the crowd, and wept bitterly.
 
ENCOUNTER
 
            “I DO NOT KNOW HIM!”
 
            The third time I raised my voice, and it echoed throughout the courtyard just as the rooster crowed. Hearing the rooster crow was like waking up to a nightmare. Jesus turned and looked at me. His face did not register disappointment or anger, but understanding. And then He was led away and I could see Him no more.
 
            What had I done? He told me this would happen, but I had boasted that I would follow Him to prison and even death. He tried to warn me, but I had flat out rejected the possibility of ever denying Him.
 
            What else did He say? After supper, at the olive grove, before He prayed, before they came to arrest Him? At the time, His words to me were just too much to comprehend. He knew I would deny Him, and yet He tried to warn me and . . . also, to prepare me? What else did He say?
 
            “Peter, my dear friend, listen to what I’m about to tell you. Satan has demanded to come and sift you like wheat and test your faith. But I have prayed for you, Peter, that you would stay faithful to me no matter what comes. Remember this: after you have turned back to Me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers.” [Luke 22:31-32 TPT]
 
            Faithful? Restored? Strengthen my brothers? He saw that I would deny Him. Did He see those things as well? Could I really return to Him just as the prodigal son did in one of His parables? Would He welcome me back with open arms after what I had just done? Was it possible?
 
            Jesus was my friend and my teacher. And He was the Christ, the One who would bring salvation. He was also the Son of God, who had the power to forgive sins. He had said so Himself. What else did He say? He told us to drink the cup. He said it was His blood poured out for the complete forgiveness of sins!
 
            I was a fisherman when Jesus found me and called me to follow Him.  A  fisherman knows that when you’re out at sea in a storm, you drop anchor and hope that anchor holds. I had been tested, but Jesus had prayed for me that my faith would not fail. Jesus was my anchor.
 
 
PRAYER
            Dear Jesus, I have also denied you once, twice, more than three times. Thank You for praying for me and for warning me and preparing me for tests and trials. I too drink deeply of the cup of forgiveness You poured out for me. And when I waver in my faith, when storms of life blow me off course, my anchor will hold. You welcome me home with open arms and hold me secure, now and always.