How Christ Responded Part 1

Have you ever thought about Jesus’ response to Peter’s denial? Jesus was inside the high priest’s house facing the charges leveled against Him. Meanwhile, Peter stood outside in the courtyard. There he was confronted by those who recognized that he was one of Jesus’ followers. In response he broke his promise to Jesus, denying that he even knew the man from Galilee. Three times he vehemently denied knowing Jesus or being one of his disciples. Immediately Peter hears a rooster crow and he is reminded of how Jesus warned him that he would deny Him three times. How did Jesus respond to Peter’s betrayal and what does it reveal about our Lord?

In order to understand our Lord’s response I think we need to start at the point where Jesus warns Peter about his pending denial. In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus warns Peter about a plot being hatched by the enemy. Fortunately for Peter, Jesus had already prayed for him. Jesus had prayed that Peter’s faith should not fail. Yet, Jesus then follows this by speaking of when Peter returns to Him. Jesus knew that Peter would turn away from Him for a moment. He spoke of Peter’s denial and yet it would seem that Jesus did not see this moment of weakness as a failure of Peter’s faith. He clearly knew that Peter would stumble but He also knew that Peter would return.

Peter’s denial did not surprise Jesus nor do our stumbles surprise Him today. He sees your heart and knows your thoughts. Our Lord sees your missteps before you are even tempted and I believe His Spirit (through your conscience) works to try to warn you just as Jesus warned Peter. When we do stumble, Jesus’ goal is the same as it was with Peter.

Jesus spoke of Peter returning to him. He then spoke of Peter strengthening his brothers. It would seem from this comment that Jesus’ goal was restoration. He planned to restore Peter, moving him back into a position of ministry. This was Jesus’ long term mission and a major stumble would not deter our Lord. When we stumble I believe Jesus’ goal is the same for us: restoration. The one thing He asks is that we return to Him: that when we realize our wrong we ask for forgiveness, acknowledging Him as our righteous Lord. He asks us to get up and walk again, trusting in His grace.

Yes, we all stumble from time to time. When we do we should remember that our sins are forgiven, the price paid through Jesus our Lord. We should see ourselves as forgiven and then remember that Jesus’ goal after we stumble is for us to be restored. Jesus told Peter this very thing before Peter’s failure. Jesus told Peter that His ministry would continue. His plan was to restore Peter and this is how Jesus responds to us when we stumble today.