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Jesus told Peter it was going to happen. He told Peter “…you will deny me three times,” before the rooster crows. Peter didn’t believe it would happen, but that’s exactly what Peter did (Matthew 26:30-35). How could this happen?
Peter was close to Jesus. He was the first disciple Jesus chose. Jesus said, “Follow me,” and Peter, along with his brother Andrew, immediately left their fishing gear and all they knew to follow Jesus. He witnessed Jesus’ ministry up close, seeing Jesus work miracles, heal the sick (including Peter’s mother-in-law) and preach to crowds. When Jesus walked on water, Peter walked on water to meet him… until he became frightened by the winds and Jesus had to rescue him (imagine the stories about that night). Peter also confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). Peter knew Jesus. Peter loved Jesus, yet he got to a point where he denied he knew him, three times. What happened?
In the middle of the madness leading to Jesus’s death on the cross, Peter lost his focus. When two servant girls and a bystander asked if he was with Jesus or if he was “one of them,” he denied it and then denied knowing who they were talking about. The moment the rooster crowed, Jesus’ words of the betrayal piercingly ricocheted in Peter’s mind. It took only minutes to abandon Jesus, the one he’d left everything to follow. Peter wept bitterly at this realization. How would Jesus react?
Peter’s Savior – Our Savior – reacted with mercy and grace. He knew Peter would fail, but it didn’t change his love for him. He didn’t abandon Peter or give up, and he definitely didn’t allow failure to determine Peter’s future. Christ’s love pursued Peter, just as it does any of God’s children. God’s love is stronger than any mistake or failure. There is nothing we could do that would cause him to abandon us. We see this sweet reassurance after the resurrection, as Jesus allows Peter to confirm his love for Jesus, concluding with “Follow me” (John 21:15-19).
This same message and assurance is available for you. God says, “Follow me.” Focus on Me. Nothing can separate you from God: not life or death, angels or demons, not today or tomorrow, highs or lows… Nothing (Romans 8:38-39). God will never abandon you.
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About this Plan
What does it mean to FEEL abandoned? How can we help those who ARE abandoned? What do we NEED to abandon? For this youth study, we will talk about God's heart for the abandoned, and what we as followers of Christ need to do about it.
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