"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."Luke 5:8
This was Peter's first response to Jesus. After the miraculous catch of fish, he fell at Jesus' knees—not with gratitude, but with terror. He knew what he was.
"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."Luke 5:10
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;Psalm 51:17
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Jesus renamed him. Simon became Peter—the Rock. He gave him authority, the keys of the kingdom. And Peter believed in his own strength.
"Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."Matthew 26:33
"Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!"Matthew 26:35
He meant it. He truly believed it. Hours later, he failed.
"I do not know what you mean."Matthew 26:70 (First denial)
"I do not know the man."Matthew 26:72 (Second denial, with an oath)
"I do not know the man."Matthew 26:74 (Third denial, with cursing)
The rooster crowed. Peter remembered. And he went out and wept bitterly.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!Psalm 130:1-2
O Lord, hear my voice!
After the resurrection, Jesus met the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He made them breakfast—by the same lake where he had first called Peter. Then he asked a question.
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"John 21:15
"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."
"Feed my lambs."
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"John 21:16
"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."
"Tend my sheep."
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"John 21:17
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
"Feed my sheep."
Three denials. Three commissions. Peter's final answer didn't appeal to his own faithfulness. He appealed to Christ's knowledge: "You know everything."
As far as the east is from the west,Psalm 103:12
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Fifty days later, the Holy Spirit descended. Peter—who had denied Christ before a servant girl—stood up before thousands.
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certainActs 2:36
that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified."
When Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin—the same council that had condemned Jesus—Peter spoke without fear.
"There is salvation in no one else,Acts 4:12
for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved."
The authorities were astonished. These were uneducated, common men. But they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Years later, Peter wrote to scattered churches facing persecution. He wrote as one who knew failure and restoration.
"Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you,1 Peter 4:12-13
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,
that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you,1 Peter 5:2-3
exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly,
as God would have you;
not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
not dominating over those in your charge,
but being examples to the flock."
"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another,1 Peter 5:5
for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
He learned that leadership is service, not domination. He learned that God gives grace to the humble. He learned through failure.
Peter who denied Christ to save his life
walked toward death in Rome.
The transformation was complete.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Peter promised you everything
and delivered nothing.
He swore he would die with you,
then denied he even knew you.
He cursed and swore,
"I do not know the man."
And you did not cast him off.
You made him breakfast by the lake.
You asked him, "Do you love me?"
Three times you asked—
matching his three denials with three commissions.
"Feed my sheep," you said.
When I have promised you everything
and delivered nothing,
when I have denied you to save myself,
when I weep bitterly over what I've done—
let me hear your question:
"Do you love me?"
Let my answer be Peter's:
"Lord, you know everything;
you know that I love you."
Through the intercession of Peter,
who denied you three times
and was restored three times—
teach me that your grace is stronger
than my failure.
Amen.