“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times” Matthew 26: 34 [NIV]
In response to an impetuous outburst of loyalty by Peter, Jesus warned him that he would deny him three times. Peter must have been sure that he would stay loyal – yet how different he must have felt after Jesus was arrested.
As Jesus had predicted, quoting from the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7, when he was arrested the disciples all deserted him and fled.
“Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered” [NIV]
That same evening, Peter had three opportunities to acknowledge that he was one of the disciples – only after the third denial and the cock crow, did he realise what he had done, and he wept bitterly with remorse.
There is often a difference between our desire for courage and loyalty and our performance when the opportunity presents itself. In a sense, there was no major harm done by Peter’s denial (other than betrayal) – yet as a lesson it must have been very powerful to Peter.
What matters when we fail (as we do, often) is that we learn from our failure. If, consequently, we can become stronger and more mature - then our failure has not been in vain. If we give up when we fail, and decide that we have proven our inability then we become less as a result and our self-esteem, courage and maturity all suffer
Lord, help us to learn us much from our failure as we do from success. Make us bolder and wiser day by day, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Dave MacLellan (first published in 2003)
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