John 18 - The Life Recovery Bible

18:15-18, 25-27 Peter denied Jesus not only once but three times, despite his earlier assurances of loyalty. We have often done the same thing. We have professed our faith, only to turn around and deny Christ’s lordship over crucial areas of our life. Peter meant well when he assured Jesus of his loyalty, but he still failed. Yet his relapse was not the end of the story (see 21:15-19), just as our relapses don’t have to be the end of our recovery. With Jesus Christ, there is always hope for restoration.

18:28-38 Many people believe that truth is relative, as did Pilate. Modern moral relativists live without absolute guidelines for right and wrong, not realizing how destructive even the most private sins can be. Since we are all tempted at times to disregard God’s guidelines for healthy living, we need to be held accountable to God’s truth. We need godly people who can help us measure our attitudes and actions against the truth of God’s Word. If we try to write our own rules for recovery, we are headed for painful relapses.