Day 35: Peter (Matthew 26: 31-35, 69-75)
Peter’s spiritual journey proved to be long and difficult—painful, to be exact. His pride had gotten the better of him too many times to count. But it hadn’t always been like that. When he met Jesus on a deep sea fishing trip, Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet, proclaiming his sinful unworthiness. That day he began his journey with Christ.
From the beginning there seemed to be favor on his life. It was Peter who was called to walk on the water to Jesus. It was Peter who first declared that Jesus was the Christ. Christ said of his bold statement, “Upon this rock I will build My church.” He was one of three who saw Jesus transfigured and was allowed to see Moses and Elijah as well.
Despite these incredible events, Peter seemed to keep trusting in himself. He sank in the waves. He thought it would be a great idea to build tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah, pridefully hanging on to the fact that he had been a part of that powerful moment. On that day, God spoke aloud and said, “Listen to My Son!” But listening wasn’t Peter’s strong suit, either. He can be found on the pages of the Bible usually speaking with great devotion, but little follow through. “I will never fall away. I will never deny You,” are the words that surely played over and over in his head along with his three denials of Christ just before His trial. Had Jesus not said, “You will deny me three times”?
Peter’s pride had caused him to rely more on himself than to trust in Jesus and His word, and he paid a bitter price for it. I wonder if anyone has wept harder over their sins than Peter. On the other hand, it’s possible that no one understands forgiveness to the same degree as Peter. After the failure of falling to pride, Peter received his forgiveness and went on to preach salvation with a boldness that caused thousands to be born again. Thus, the early church was born, and he learned to tenderly care for and feed God’s sheep. In the two letters of Peter that have been preserved in the Bible, he feeds us today, as well.
What sins cause you to deny Jesus? How do you trust more in yourself than in Jesus and His Word? What have been the results of such a walk? Is repentance your next step, or will you deny that it needs to be?
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