FROM OVERCOME TO OVERCOMER

If you’ve ever felt like you just made a huge mistake and it seems like there is no way you can possibly fix what you’ve done to make it right, then you know exactly what Peter must have felt when he denied knowing Jesus. Now, when Peter denied knowing Jesus he didn’t just ignore a question he was asked or quietly answer and walk away. No, he denied Jesus three times, and the Bible says that he denied him emphatically by cursing and swearing! Peter made this denial the very same day he declared, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison or to death.” (Luke 22:33) I’m sure Peter hadn’t forgotten this statement after his denial, and it must have crushed him.

Peter didn’t only let himself down however, Jesus was also present to hear Peter’s words of denial. Can you imagine the guilt that must have flushed over Peter when Jesus turned and looked at him?

That being said, let me ask you this question. How did Jesus look at Peter?

It could have been a sad look of disappointment, maybe an angry glare, or it could have been an I-told-you-so look (since He actually predicted Peter’s denial earlier). No, I believe Jesus looked at Peter with compassion and forgiveness. As if to say, “Peter, you may have failed, but remember I have prayed for you that your confidence in Me(not yourself) will not fail.” (Luke 24:34)

But Jesus didn’t stop there. As recorded in Mark 16:7, He sent an angel to meet Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James as they came to the tomb, instructing them to tell the disciples (making special mention of Peter) that Jesus would be in Galilee. So, why do you think the angel singled out Peter? He could have just said, “Go tell the disciples they can find Jesus in Galilee.” But he didn’t, he made sure they knew that it was especially important to tell Peter. Well, we can find the answer by looking at Luke 24:34. Here we see that Jesus may have actually appeared to Peter privately. In this meeting, I believe Jesus and Peter talked things out, so to speak, and Jesus restored Peter’s guilty conscience.

It still didn’t end there though, because did you know that Jesus even went so far as to heal Peter’s painful memories of his denial?

As recorded in the 21st chapter of John, Jesus greeted the disciples in the morning, while they were fishing, with breakfast over a fire. After they ate the breakfast He had prepared for them, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times (the same amount of times Peter denied Him), to which Peter replied, “Yes Lord, You know that I love You.” Three times. Jesus took Peter’s terrible memory and replaced it with something beautiful. So now when Peter sits around a campfire he won’t be reminded of the terrible mistake he made when he denied Jesus, instead he will be reminded of the love Jesus showed him over a beautiful campfire breakfast on the beach. Isn’t our Lord amazing!

So, remember if you have made a mistake in your life that you feel you just can’t get out from under, know that the Lord isn’t looking at you with disappointment. God’s love for you is never changing because Jesus bore the judgment for all your mistakes on the cross. So, receive God’s love, like Peter did, and go from being down and out to being an overcomer in life!