The article has a section that talks about how Peter had been so protective of Christ and so willing to proclaim his association with and belief in Jesus Christ. That is why it is so hard for some to believe that although Peter had defended Jesus just hours before his three times betrayal that he then felt weakness and denied the Christ. I have also felt those same feelings but not as greatly as I did while reading the article. The actual part in the article states, "In sum, it is apparent that Jesus knew of Peter's fearlessness in defending Him. He had seen several manifestations of Peter's unswerving, almost reckless, commitment to prevent any physical harm from coming to the Savior. And this was something jesus knew could get Peter into trouble if not tempered. It would put the chief Apostle in grave physical danger. Therefore, I believe that when Jesus told Peter he would deny Him thrice before the cock crowed trice, it was not a prediction;it was a command. Some might ask, "Why then did Peter weep bitterly after his denial?" I believe these tears of frustration and sorrow in the realization that he was powerless to change the Lord's fate. He had done what needed to be done, but every impulse inside him was to act differently--to prevent the suffering of the Savior. This was a bitter pill for Peter to swallow. These were tears of frustration precisely because he was obedient but now also fully cognizant of the fact that he was going to lose his Messiah to the inevitability of death."
I hope all can read the 4 synoptic gospels and see for yourselves how righteous of a man Peter was.
1 comment:
I was also really interested to think about Peter's denial in this light. It has always bothered me that a man who showed such faith and devotion to the Savior would loose confidence in the end. However, I think the idea of Christ commanding Peter to deny him is probably very likely, for Jesus would have wanted to save his loyal Peter from harm. How hard it must have been for Peter to deny his beloved Savior. I imagine his tears were also tears of relief, for after the cock crew the third time, Peter could let down the facade. He no longer had to live a lie or hide his sorrow for Christ. His tears were not tears of shame, but tears of pure sorrow for the Savior that he loved.
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