Not Disappointed

Scripture: Luke 22:54-65

54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” 58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62 NLT)

Earlier that evening, in the upper room, Peter had insisted he would die before denying Jesus! Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, but Jesus was able to look ahead, through desertion and betrayal, through torture and crucifixion, through death and the tomb, to his resurrection and Peter’s restoration on the other side. Jesus saw Peter restored and faithful, filled with the Spirit, preaching to thousands, healing the sick, strengthening the church, advancing God’s Kingdom!

But Peter had to live through it all in real time. That night, Peter denied knowing Jesus to a servant girl, then to someone else, then finally to yet another person. When the rooster crowed and Jesus’ words from earlier that evening flashed through Peter’s mind, he was undone! Peter was broken! Peter the brave was a coward. Peter the bold was fearful. Peter the strong was weak as a kitten. And he was so disappointed in himself!

Jesus was not disappointed in Peter! Friends, we must get this! To be disappointed would mean Jesus had an expectation different from what happened. Jesus knew Peter just as he knows you and me, friends! And he knows when we’ll disappoint ourselves. But Jesus sees us on the other side, restored, and he’s forgiven us already!

Prayer:

Father, Please help us to grasp the truth that you’re not disappointed in us. Help us to grasp that you know everything about us, what we’ve done and what we’ll do and where we’ll fail and fall and that you see us on the other side of it all. Grant us grace like you gave to Peter to receive your total forgiveness and full restoration. Amen!