Jesus is Essential
John 18:25–27: Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
We learn from the other Gospels how Peter went out and wept bitterly. I think that he caught a glimpse of the face of our Lord all bloody and beaten, and he caught His eye. That is when he went out and cried like a baby. You know that if he was arguing with a kinsman of Malchus, he must have been pretty vehement. He denied his Lord. But, thank God, the Lord was on His way to die for him and had already told him that He had prayed so that Peter’s faith would not fail. Why is it that Simon Peter, who did a deed as dastardly as Judas, could make his way back to the Lord?
Because he was a child of God, and it broke his heart to know what he had done. A child of God may get far from God, but God is never far from him. You may be dead to God, but God is never dead to you. He is always there and He is always available. The Lord never said to Peter, “I’m sorry, but because you failed Me, I just can’t use you anymore.” No, He appeared personally to Peter after His resurrection, and He elected Peter to preach the first sermon on the day of Pentecost. There has never been a sermon like it! Thank God for a Savior and a Lord like that. He will always take you back! 1
Walking with Jesus
Explain to a friend today how you experienced a radically changed life because of the love that Jesus bestowed upon you, when He gave you the grace you never deserved.
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. Philippians 1:6
The way back to Jesus is on a broken road paved with stones of humility.
Praying
Lord, thank You for waiting, watching, and wanting me to return to You.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21) (electronic ed., Vol. 39). Nashville.
