Countdown to the Cross... (Wednesday, April 8)

Today's reading - a little later in the day - is Luke 22:54-65. Feel free to click and read that first.

Peter is known as the "head disciple" of the twelve. He may have been the oldest disciple. He was often the most outspoken and daring.

Need someone to step out of the boat and try to walk on the water with Jesus?

Need someone to boldly blurt out the thoughts of everyone around, not afraid to address the elephant in the room?

Need someone to give a straight, direct answer?

Peter was THAT guy. A leader. A faithful follower. Head of the class.

If anyone would rush to protest the arrest of his captain and role model, Peter would.
If anyone would know the law well enough to mount a case, Peter would.

And yet, right after Jesus is arrested, who is the first one to jump ship?

THAT same guy.

Jesus is abandoned by his "rock," the one who left everything to follow Him. Seems like it only took Peter sixty minutes to deny Christ three times.

First, he tells a servant girl that he never knew Jesus.
A few moments later, he tells someone else that he was never "one of them" (disciples).
An hour later, he blurts, "I don't know what you are talking about!"

To be honest, I see myself in that guy, Peter. At times, I'm ready to follow Christ 110%, no matter what it costs me. At other times, I'm ashamed to have chickened out, walked away, and denied any connection with Jesus.

We have no business judging Peter, because we deny Jesus all too often.

I just hope that I react like Peter when confronted with my own failures. Peter "wept bitterly," showing the true heart's desire and the weakness he's feeling. Peter did the hard work of examining and expressing what goes on inside.

His denial of Jesus - heartbreaking as it was - was finished.

In a few days, Peter is one of the first to see the empty tomb, responding in shock, awe, and worship.

In a few weeks, Peter is the first one to stand up and confront an assembly of Jews with the power of God's Holy spirit.

In a few years, Peter would willingly go to his own cross, sacrificing His own life for His beloved Savior Jesus.

Though Luke 22 shows us one of Peter's weakest moments... God uses it for tremendous personal transformation in Peter's life!