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Day 304

Luke 22:31-34, 55-62 "DID YOU IDENTIFY WITH PETER?"

Day 304 – Luke 22

Text: Luke 22:31-34, 55-62

DID YOU IDENTIFY WITH PETER?

Were you shaken by the fact that Peter, a leading disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, could have failed his Master so terribly? Did you feel a great fear in your heart that perhaps one day, you too might falter and fail?

What contributed to the collapse of Peter? A number of factors must be considered carefully:-

1. Jesus had warned Peter that “Satan had asked for him” (Luke 22:31).

Perhaps Peter had underestimated the power of Satan in this instance. He could not see his enemy’s assaults. He could not fathom just how the Evil One would attack him. Peter fell because he was unprepared for the powerful assault of the enemy.

2. Peter was overly confident of himself (Matthew 26:31-35)

Despite the fact that Jesus had forewarned them that they would desert Him, Peter refused to believe in the words of his Master. He declared firmly that he would never desert or betray Jesus. Peter was overly confident of himself at this point of time.

3. The lack of prayerfulness (Luke 22:40-46)

Jesus had urged His three special disciples to “watch and pray” (Luke 22:40). Peter, James and John just could not keep their eyes open, no matter how hard they tried. Their lack in this spiritual discipline, to watch and pray, revealed their actual inner strength.

4. The overwhelming circumstances (Luke 22:56-60)

Repeatedly, questions and accusations were hurled at Peter. He must have become unnerved by the hostile circumstances he found himself in. He had never encountered such a hostile crowd before, and thus the pressure got to him.

A WHISPER OF HOPE

Did you weep with Peter when he remembered the poignant words of Jesus? He must have shed copious tears that night!

He had shamed himself. He had not kept his boastful words. He had dishonoured his Master. He had set a bad example. He had failed and that miserably! How wretched Peter must have felt at that moment!

Was there any hope in the future? How could he face his Teacher again? How could he look at his friends in the face? How low he had sunk! He was almost like Judas!

Despondency, despair and frustration – these feelings would have driven a man mad! Peter had loved Jesus with a deep and intense passion. That kind of love could also swing him to the other side of the pendulum, where hurt, despair and frustration could have overwhelmed him.

Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him. That came to pass. But wait, did not Jesus also say to him these precious words…

“But I have prayed for you,
that your faith should not fail;
and when you have returned to Me,
strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22:32

There in the words of Jesus were the whispers of hope. Tears came. The proud human spirit was now humbled. Peter must cling to the words of Jesus for dear life. The tears that stung his eyes and smote his heart, must also lead him back to faith in his Saviour once again.

1. The power of Jesus’ prayer

Jesus had said that He had prayed for him. That meant that Satan could not possess him as he did Judas. He may be defeated for the moment, but Satan hadn’t won the war, just this skirmish.

Jesus’ prayer was not for Peter to escape this battle with Satan. He did not pray that Peter would escape the sense of humiliation that would come through being defeated. His prayer was that he would be kept from the full powers of Satan. Peter was kept by the power of Jesus’ prayer.

2. That Faith would not fail

Jesus had prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. His courage failed him. His human strength failed him, but he had not given up his faith in Jesus. He would never give up that faith in Him no matter how wretched he may feel.

Feelings may be crushed, but the faith of Peter did not fail him. It may have been weakened, but it was not destroyed! The seed of faith that Jesus had planted in the heart of Peter had taken root, and though the stormy weather threatened the faith, it held firm.

3. Returning to Jesus

Jesus spoke of the day when Peter would return to Him. When would that day be? Peter did not know, but surely that day would come… as Jesus had said!

There was yet hope. Jesus had not rejected Peter. He believed that this chastened disciple would one day return to His side. That must have bolstered hope somehow.

4. Strengthening of the brethren

Jesus saw beyond the denial of Peter. He saw beyond his failure. He saw beyond all the struggles that Peter endured. Good would come out of this event yet… and all because of the fact that Jesus said He had prayed for him.

Peter wasn’t the only one who failed Jesus. The other disciples had also fled. They too were weak. Peter must see beyond his failure, and when he had returned to Jesus, he must seek to help them find greater strength.

“BUT WE SEE JESUS…”

How wonderful Jesus was to His Disciples. He had not condemned them. He had chosen instead to see beyond their weaknesses. Let’s not allow our failures to dampen our spirits! Let us be reminded of a lovely verse in Hebrews.

“But we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses…” Hebrews 4:15