Restored And Ready - Peter

Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Matthew 26:74-75

A middle-aged Vietnam veteran weighed down with guilt listened intently as a friend explained God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

When his friend finished, the vet nodded in agreement, but in his mind, one big problem loomed. “Man, you don’t even want to know the things I’ve done in the past,” he said. “I know this Jesus stuff works for a lot of people, but I don’t think it will work for someone who’s done the kind of things I’ve done.”

The world bursts with people weighed down with sins, some so serious that they doubt they can ever find forgiveness. The Bible teaches that God offers forgiveness for even the worst of sins and the worst of sinners.

Peter learned this truth firsthand.

Two men sinned terribly during the final hours before Jesus’ death: Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him, and Peter, who denied even knowing him. Theories abound as to Judas’s motivation for betraying Jesus, but few experts question why Peter denied him. He was afraid.

Judas and Peter both failed Jesus miserably, and both men immediately knew they had done wrong and felt the pangs of guilt. Judas was so ashamed that he tried to return the money he had received for betraying Jesus, hoping to undo the wrong he had committed. Peter wept bitterly over his denial and felt so ashamed that he disappeared from the scene.

That’s where the similarities end.

Of these two remorseful sinners, only one turned back to the Lord. Judas took his own life, but a repentant Peter returned to Jesus, who set him on a course of courageous preaching and teaching.

God extends his forgiveness for the very worst sins and to the very worst of sinners. When you fail Jesus in any way, he invites you to follow Peter, who found forgiveness and restoration when he turned back to his Master.