Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
All of the disciples agreed that they would never deny Jesus. Such a thing was unthinkable in light of all that they had experienced with Jesus. The highs and lows of ministry, the heart of His teaching, the countless meals, and the many laughs and talks that they enjoyed together seemed all too weighty to allow for a betrayal.
Yet, Peter did deny Jesus multiple times in the same evening. How could this be?
Fear.
Fear can act as a vicious, merciless master in our lives. When fear of anything other than God creeps in, and we open our ears to it, we will do whatever it tells us. We are all guilty of this.
In the moments leading up to the denial of Peter and the well-intended promises of faithfulness of the other disciples, Jesus does not push them away or abandon them. He welcomes them to join Him in prayer (Matthew 26:36). This is an incredible moment.
In my life, I have recoiled from the betrayal or perceived betrayal of others. Seeing and feeling what they did, I hid my heart from them and punished them with silence and withdrawing my affection. While this behavior may be understandable to some or in certain circumstances, it isn’t the example that Christ gives us. Knowing what they will do, and even after they deny Him, Jesus invites the disciples into intimacy.*
No matter what you have done or have not done for Jesus, Jesus desires intimacy with you today. He wants to welcome you into deep conversation, prayer, and time alone with Him. The forgiveness of Jesus extends to us all no matter what we have done or are about to do.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to forgive someone in your life. Perhaps He wants you to talk to Him about how you process and react to betrayal. Maybe today God wants you to step in closer to Him despite what you have done. Perhaps He wants you to hear His call of intimacy with Him today.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 663–666, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt Mt 26:31–46).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).