Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31 NIV
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me.”
Luke 22:31 NLT
RELATIONSHIP REALITIES ABOUT PETER AND ME
Jesus realizes that Peter and I will sometimes fail.
Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, decide to betray Jesus. Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!”… “Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t even know me.”
John 13:1, 38 CEV
2. Jesus loves Peter and me anyway.
It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.”
John 13:1 CEV
“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
Romans 5:6 CEV
3. Jesus knows that Peter’s and my failures don’t have to be fatal.
..so when you have repented and turned to me again…
Luke 22:32b NLT
4. Jesus is pulling for Peter and me to finish faithfully.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.
Luke 22:31, 32a NLT
5. Jesus still has plans for Peter’s and my future.
…So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.
Luke 22:32b NLT
WHAT MUST I DO TO FIND MY WAY BACK TO JESUS?
I must repent.
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away." Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:73-75 NIV
Repentance involves being sorry, but is more than just being sorry.
…the kind of sorrow God wants us to have leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
2. I must rely on Christ’s Word.
But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one who was killed on a cross. He has risen from death. He is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him. Now go and tell his followers and Peter, ‘Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there as he told you before.’”
Mark 16:6, 7 ICB
“Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, You will eat the best of the land…
Isaiah 1:18, 19 NASV
3. I must recommit to Christ’s purpose.
We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 VOICE