While all four canonical Gospels have varying descriptions of the events of Holy Week, including the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, they all report* that during “The Last Supper” Jesus predicts that Peter will deny knowing Him three times before the night ends. The verses are eerily similar, especially noting that the denial will occur three times – and that Peter denies that he will deny!

Most theologians and scholars agree that if something shows up in all four Gospels, it probably happened. In this case, I don’t believe there is an argument to be made for it not happening. And, while my heart hurts for the emotional pain that Jesus must have felt in knowing that one of His closest friends was about to abandon Him so thoroughly in the hour of His greatest need, I am so grateful that it did happen and that the writers of these Gospels reported it.

You see, I am Peter. I love Jesus so very much. I am eternally grateful for the way that Jesus has saved me from myself and filled my heart with Love. I trust Jesus with my life. I want to follow Jesus anywhere and everywhere – even to death if that is what He asks of me. If Jesus were sitting next to me, I would tell Him all of that. I would wash His feet with my tears of joy and gratitude; and I would be heartbroken if He told me I was about to deny Him. I am Peter in all that. But, I am also Peter in that I cannot say for certain that, if confronted with a crowd of angry accusers, I would be able to face the pain and torture of persecution by admitting my relationship with Jesus.

I so desperately want to know that I will be a “stand-up” Christ-follower. But, if I am truly honest with myself, I must admit that fear often stands in the way of me carrying the Message of Jesus to others. It is humbling to write this admission. Yet, I believe it to be a truth for many others as well. The conversation Jesus had with Peter during “The Last Supper” has been reported because we are all Peter. All of us who follow Jesus have the capacity for enormous love for our Savior and acceptance of His will for us. In addition to that, we all have the capacity to turn our backs to Him when He needs us most. Unfortunately, that unattractive trait is part of being human.

Fortunately for us, Jesus – while all human – was also all divine. His love for us is the same as His love for Peter. Even in knowing that Peter was about to deny Him, Jesus ate with Peter and shared the promise of new life with him. Then, when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He spoke with Peter, directing him to carry the Message to others. Jesus accepted Peter for who he was and what he was capable and incapable of. What a beautiful illustration for the rest of us, who know we are Peter, as well.

*References (NIV):
• Matthew 26:31-35
• Mark 14:29-31
• Luke 22:33-34
• John 13:36-38