The Gospel of Second Chances

 

Then seizing him [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.  And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.  A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly. - Luke 22:54-60

Have you ever made a promise and failed to keep it? Let another down? Swore you would never do something and then did that very thing you swore you'd never do?

If so, have you received the gift of a second chance? Do you know the power of being forgiven? If only Peter could have known then, how his story would be shared throughout history. His story that would bless and encourage millions who have failed in one way or another, that there is a gospel of second chances. 

Peter suffered the brokenness of sin, shame and guilt. The Lord had warned him, and even in Peter's determination, he had managed to fail Jesus anyway. Seeing Jesus look his way the moment he failed, must have crushed Peter's heart. 

 I have had moments like that. Moments when you realize that you've dishonored the Lord and let Him down. It could be something as simple as promising to spend time with Him each morning, in His word and in prayer, but I rolled over again for a few more minutes of precious sleep. 

I believe Peter's story of denying His Savior is our great reminder that our failures don't determine our future with our Lord. 

God can take those times we've fallen short and failed Him and make something good come from them. 

Notice this passage in Mark 16, 

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”-Mk 16:5-7

Did you catch it? I must have read this passage hundreds of times, but didn't see this until recently. Look again at the command the angel gives to the women after Jesus has risen. 

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (v.7 emphasis mine) 

I never noticed before that the angel singles out Peter, rather than simply telling them to go tell the disciples. It's as if he is saying, "go tell the disciples and especially Peter...". It seems that all of heaven had watched Peter fall and fail to keep his promise to Jesus. And now all of heaven wanted to help Peter get back up. Or had Jesus specifically told the angel to mention Peter? Either way, Peter's relationship with Jesus needed to be restored. But that doesn’t apply just to Peter. I believe we all are important. We all matter to Jesus, and He wants to make sure our relationship with Him is blameless and untarnished.

While our failures are not part of His plan for us, He can take our failures, slip-ups, sins and shortcomings, and restore us back into His plan. 

Don't ever give up! Even though Peter was ready to, all of heaven was ready to help. Just as they are for each of us! Let your sin break your heart as it breaks your Savior, and then come back and openly confess it to the Lord and be restored. He will bless you and use you to bless others once you return to Him.

Blessings, 

Sue