Faith Gap

John 18:15-18 & 25-27 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself…25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
 
SINCE that awful early morning in Jerusalem, Peter has been judged and condemned for his sin. Sometimes, when preaching on Peter’s restoration as recorded in John 22, I will ask the congregation what comes to mind when Peter’s name is mentioned. “Denied Christ,” is almost always the first response. Eventually words such as “passionate”, “reactionary”, “impulsive”, and “rock” were mentioned. I don’t think anyone has said “apostle”. I don’t think anyone mentioned he authored two books – or epistles – of the New Testament. None said that Peter is the main source for Mark’s gospel. Neither did anyone note he is the first gospel preacher to the Jews and the first missionary to the Gentiles as recorded in Acts.
   My point here is this: Let’s focus on one’s salvation. Our human mind is naturally prone to point out and hold on to a person’s guilt. Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” The gospel is the good news that God forgives and forgets your sins. After his resurrection, Jesus did that with Peter. Jesus would make Peter whole again, and Peter became the first voice of Jesus’ church to proclaim “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
   Peter personally knew what he was preaching. He had repented of his faith gap to become one of Jesus’ faithful apostles. Peter was a living testimony of Jesus’ glorious light of forgiveness. Joyfully, Peter’s victory over sin is an example for us in our own struggles. Do we not all find some way to deny our Lord? When we do, repentance leads to forgiveness.
   Yes, Peter denied Jesus. God then in Jesus’ death and resurrection did not deny Peter. He graciously made a way for Peter to return to him. Peter rejected his sin and lived in the Lord. What about you?