LETTING THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE

Empty promises!  How many times have you felt the same pain Peter was experiencing?  Not only the fact that you are reminded of the mistakes in your life, but realizing the many times that you have done the very things you promised you’d never do, or promised that you would never do again?  The words seem so empty!  Did Peter mean them when he said them?  Did you mean the words when you made the promises?  The answer to both questions is yes for the most part.  Let’s take a look at Peter’s attitude and words before He denied Christ, and see what kept Him from realizing the seriousness of the warning He was given and from keeping his promises.

When Jesus told the disciples that He was not going to be with them much longer, they were obviously confused.  All of them wondered what it would be like, as they had drawn very close to Christ during the last three years.  They had been together constantly, speaking heart to heart with Him, and hearing Him minister to thousands of people.  They had seen Him heal people, help the blind to see and the lame to walk.  He even raised people from the dead.  He spent every moment reaching out to people and performing miracles.  Now He’s talking about this terrible ending to His life here on earth.  How could anyone even think of sending this fantastic person to the cross to die the death of a criminal?  He had never done anything wrong!  Isn’t there a miracle for Him?  He says this is God’s plan.  None of us understand!  He also says that every single one of us are going to desert Him!

This is where Peter was determined to set the record straight.  He was very adamant in stating that he would never let anything happen to Jesus.  He shared that the others might desert Him, but he never would.  He’d give his life first.  He had no questions about his own determination to stick to Christ, no matter what.  Although this determination can be a strength, Peter’s one mistake was hanging on to his strength and determination to the point that he was unable to be aware of his weaknesses and the warnings that were given to him.

Peter had never heard Jesus say anything that was not true.  Why would this change now?  Why would Jesus just say that Peter was going to deny Him three times?