Real Hope: The Passion - Week 1Sample

Jesus Is Denied by Peter

One of the great saints once said that God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines. And Peter was a rather crooked stick. The one who upheld the early church in the face of opposition and misunderstanding was the one who let Jesus down in His hour of trial. The one who boasted of staying loyal to Jesus even if others did not then denied knowing Him. Like many of us, Peter opened his mouth before engaging his brain. When Peter denies Jesus while He is on trial, he does a thorough job of it. He does it three times, just as Jesus predicted and just as Peter had earlier refused to accept. He was typical of those of us who are big and brave before the crisis but shrink in fear when it comes.

Later after the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter to leadership. He reminded him and us that no failure is final. To fail is not to make us failures. To fail is not the end of our life journey but an opportunity to make a new beginning on it. Crooked sticks can still draw straight lines.

Written by DAVID REAY