Lavender's Blue - Ruined Sinners to Reclaim!

Lavender's Blue

Apr. 21, 2008

Ruined Sinners to Reclaim!

Matthew 26:69-75 is the account of Peter denying his relationship with Jesus three times. Peter had said earlier in Matthew 26:33 “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended,” and Jesus had replied in the next verse, “Verily I say until thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Peter then confidently declared, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.”

Peter felt very sure at that point he would NEVER deny Christ. He believed his love was strong enough to keep him from ever deserting his beloved Lord. He was mistaken. Not only did he deny Christ, he denied Him three times! After his infamous denial Matthew reports “he (Peter) went out and wept bitterly.”

This is one of the saddest portions of scripture. One minute Peter is expressing unwavering fealty to the Lord and before the day is done he has forsaken Him utterly.

In John 21:15-17 Peter is with Jesus after His resurrection. They are enjoying a meal near a warm fire after Jesus has miraculously supplied a colossal catch of fish. This is Peter’s first encounter with the Lord since His resurrection. In these verses Jesus asks Peter three separate times, “Do you love me?”

Is this not precious? Is this not a great love and a merciful God? Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to “undo” his disgraceful denial by asking him to reaffirm his love for Christ the same number of times he had disowned Him. Jesus confirms this forgiveness by repeating the command, “Feed my sheep,” three times. He is communicating not only forgiveness, but a reestablishment of His trust in Peter’s loyalty. Not only does He forgive Peter, He trusts Him to carry out His work on earth. Of course, this trust is rooted in the knowledge that God will equip Peter through the Holy Spirit to discharge his duty (Acts 2). Nevertheless, Jesus speaks directly to Peter’s specific sin of denial and reestablishes their relationship of trust.

What great encouragement for poor, despondent sinners! What great comfort to rest in the righteousness of Christ and know that God accepts unworthy, hopeless failures who’ve been washed in the Blood of the Lamb. He forgives them, equips them and then trusts them to carry out His work on earth by His grace.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

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Apr. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by hdn9587

Yes! Praise the Lord for His most precious gift of grace!

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Random thoughts and musings of an "older woman" who has homeschooled since 1992.