Posted on 04/02/2021 7:28:50 AM PDT by metmom
“Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away’” (Matthew 26:33).
Prior to Jesus’ death, Peter’s trust in himself rather than God distorted his judgment concerning loyalty to Jesus.
Like a self-willed child, Peter often heard and believed only what he wanted to. He failed to grasp the Lord’s warning that his faith would be severely tested. At the Last Supper Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). But Peter was unfazed by these words. Instead, he boasted, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” (v. 33).
Christ in His divine wisdom knew that Peter’s claim would not hold true. Therefore, He went further and soberly predicted during the Supper that Peter would soon not only desert His Lord but also deny Him three times. Now in Matthew 26, following Peter’s latest outburst of overconfidence, Jesus is constrained to repeat His prediction. Amazingly, Peter did not believe the thrust of Jesus’ words. He would rather fool himself and believe that Jesus was mistaken about his faithfulness and loyalty.
In reality, Peter’s pride deceptively told him it was impossible for him to deny the Lord. It also deceived him by filling him with a sense of superiority over others and a supreme confidence in his own strength.
Like Peter, we often display our pride and ignorance when we brashly claim great self-confidence about something that turns out just the opposite a short time later. For example, we might presumptuously assert to Christian friends that we always maintain our testimony, no matter what the situation. Then, to our shame, the very next week we lie, cheat, or shade the truth to get ourselves out of a difficult circumstance.
But what a reassurance to know that Jesus was willing to die for proud, thoughtless disciples such as Peter and careless followers such as us. Furthermore, our Lord is constantly in the business of forgiving and restoring those who stumble: “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray that today and every day God would make you more confident in His grace and power and less reliant on your own wisdom.
For Further Study
Read Matthew 16:13-28. What important principle in verses 24-26 can help you avoid Peter’s impulsive mistakes?
Studying God’s Word ping
The only strength is in Christ. Trust no preacher, Pope or denomination for your strength. It is in Christ alone. Bonding in believers is very good to affirm our beliefs but it is not the Rock upon which our faith must stand.
Never say never.
What impresses me is that Jesus predicted Peter would deny him three times that night. Not two. Not four. Not some. Not a few. Three. Exactly three. Almost like he’d seen this before.
Of course, this isn’t the only instance of incredibly accurate predictions but it emphasizes again to me that God exists outside the realms of time and space. If you can get your head around that, it opens up some doors to understanding who God is and why He has always existed and will always exist. He does not age or change.
I could be wrong but I believe God knew me before the beginning of time, knew of all my sins before I committed them, died for those sins at the Cross, not in abstract but in complete foreknowledge, forgave me and loves me despite all my flaws. That’s a very comforting feeling.
I do so love that analogy you give on your profile page, or the ‘backdoor’. And the love that declares you are determined to hold that backdoor open for your grandkids ...
I don’t think you’re wrong at all.
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