To Encourage You

Mark 14:72 “And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.”

Acts 2:36-37 “’Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ “

What are you passionate about? Is there anything you can’t wait to talk to someone about?  To some, that may be a hobby, or a cause of some type.  Perhaps it’s an experience that changed your life, and you are always ready to tell others about it.  Conversely, is there anything that you know a lot about, but you are reluctant to tell anyone?  You are embarrassed to let anyone know what you know about that thing.  Maybe something you’ve done that you don’t want anyone to know about.  

Interestingly, in the verses above from the gospel of Mark, the apostle Peter is passionate to deny something – actually – Someone he knows very well, while in the verses from Acts, Peter is just as passionate, perhaps more so, to tell as many people as he possibly can about his knowledge of this same person.  What happened to him?  What caused this change?  Here was one who did all he could to deny his relationship with Christ in order to save his own neck, but later did all he could to proclaim his relationship with Christ, though it would eventually result in his own death. 

One obvious change that occurred in Peter’s life was the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was the Holy Spirit who filled Peter and the other disciples with the power to minister to others and proclaim the gospel, no matter the consequences.  However, another thing that happened in the intervening time period between the Mark and Acts accounts was the forgiveness of Jesus for Peter’s despicable denial of Him. 

Peter failed miserably in life.  Here was one who had the wonderful privilege afforded very few people in all of history to be taught directly by Christ, to see Him with his own eyes, and to hear Him with his own ears. He saw the miracles of Jesus first-hand, and had even proclaimed to Jesus, personally, that He was indeed the Christ, the son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).  He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who Jesus was, and yet, when he was under pressure, he turned away from Jesus at His time of greatest need.  We know how utterly devastated he was of his own failure. Was there anything at all redeemable in the life of such a person?  It’s likely he doubted so.  It was clear that Satan had tempted Peter to deny Christ, and it is just as certain that Satan, “the accuser of the brethren,” jumped on him with both feet to condemn him for his great sin.  Nevertheless, in spite of this, Jesus made sure to come to Peter and forgive him, and not just forgive him, but give him another chance to serve Him with his life (John 21:15-19).  It was that second chance that put passion in the heart of Peter. 

So what about you and what about me?  Are we passionate about Christ?  Are we quick to identify with Him and speak about Him, no matter whom we are with?  If we are, it is likely only because we have come to a place in our life where we’ve recognized the horror of our great sins against Him, and have been overwhelmed by His mercy and forgiveness in spite of it.  However, if you are right now in a situation where you feel totally condemned by how you’ve lived your life and you feel that you are in an unredeemable place because of it, Jesus has given us all the example of Peter to show us that what you are thinking is far from the truth.  He loves you, no matter what you’ve done, and He is a redeemer, a friend of sinners and the Great Physician for those who know they are sick.  No matter what your past, no matter how deep your failure, no matter how great your sin, there is a Redeemer who not only can forgive you, but wants more than anything to forgive you and give you a second chance to serve Him with your life. It is that Truth that can change a life, and give one a passion for Christ that changes everything.