PrintToday's "Moment with Mark" (87)
16 February, 2013
Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." "Peter," Jesus replied, "the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." "No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the others vowed the same. (Mark 14:29-31 NLT)
There is no doubt in my mind that Peter meant every word he said. Likewise for the rest, they all declared their loyalty...and they meant it. Except Judas. By this time he had left the room on his mission of betrayal.
But getting back to Peter; I say again, I am absolutely convinced that his declaration of loyalty unto death was meant with every fibre of his being. But there is one person out there on the Mount of Olives who knows Peter better than Peter knows himself. Jesus , as usual, tells it like it is and predicts Peter's denial. Peter is a bit short on accurate self-awareness at this point and Jesus provides a reality check.
Why did Jesus do that? Wouldn't it have been more gracious to let Peter hang on to his declaration of loyalty unto death rather than shooting it down in flames? Why not say something like, "Peter, that's great! To know you are there by my side will be a wonderful support". Rather that response than, "Peter, I'm sorry but not only will you deny me, you will deny me three times before the clock strikes midnight!"
We don't have to look far for an answer.
[1] In a sense what Peter is about to endure is an image-shattering experience that almost destroyed him. What Jesus said about him was so far removed from what Peter said about himself that such a gap might never be bridged. In fact, when the horrible truth dawned on Peter that Jesus was right and he was wrong, we are told that he went out and wept bitterly. The picture of a man crushed. It's not impossible that Judas would not be the on ly person to take his own life because of what he did in relation to Jesus.
[2] The only glimmer of hope on the dark landscape of denial is that Jesus knew exactly what would happen in the loyalty/denial stakes. Not only did Jesus anticipate the denial of Peter, but He told Peter bluntly ahead of time so that Peter could cling to the fact that, knowing all this, Jesus still accepted Peter and that restoration was still possible. Without that prediction of denial Peter may never have recovered.
Is there anyone out there listening? Can you now forgive yourself as Jesus forgives you? What you did or said or thought - that which you said you would never say or do or think - did not surprise your Lord. It's time for you to come in from the cold.
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