Before the Resurrection: When Life Doesn’t Turn Out Like We HopedSample

Day 2 - Betrayal and Shame

The Holidays aren’t some sort of untouchable day out of the year where we feel no pain, no struggle, no shame, or no guilt. In fact, sometimes the holidays can exacerbate these moments even more. Days like Easter are no different.

If you are carrying deep burdens into Easter - you are in good company. You aren’t the first to walk into the Day with solemn feelings and you won’t be the last. Peter, one of Jesus’s closest friends, walked into Resurrection Day with a heavy heart and a burdened conscience.

At the end of Luke 22, Peter fulfills the prophecy that Jesus spoke saying that he would betray his Savior 3 times before the rooster crows. Peter denies that this will happen - thus feeling an even deeper shame when it does. In fact, verse 62 says that “he went out and wept bitterly”. Peter lost everything: his friend, his mentor, and ultimately his integrity in that very moment. He was the first to declare that Jesus was the Messiah in Matthew 16, yet he finds himself in between the fear of societal standards and the truth he knew.

Have you ever been in a position where speaking the truth was going to cost you a lot? Did you ever make the wrong choice - choosing to stay quiet?

What was the aftermath of that for you? How did you feel?

If you are anything like Peter - you may feel immense guilt. You maybe feel like a horrible friend. Maybe you feel like a liar. And for Peter (and maybe you too) - he felt deep shame that he had chosen to keep his light hidden. He couldn’t undo the reality of betraying Jesus. But - Peter could accept that he was forgiven - and we can do the same.

If you are in Christ - you are forgiven. He does not see you as a mess up. He does not see you as a cheater. He does not see you as broken. He does not see you as too far gone. He does not see you as a drunk, an addict. He does not see you as a betrayer.

He sees you as a child, a friend, a daughter, or son. He sees you washed as white as snow with your sins pushed as far as the East is from the West.

In John 21, Peter gets to feel the extent of the way that the Lord redeems even the worst of moments for good. For each time Peter denied the Lord, Jesus asked Him, “Do you love me?” before giving him the Call to “feed my sheep” or to go and make disciples.

The same is true for you my friend. No matter what heavy feelings you are bringing into Easter Sunday. No matter what shame or hidden sin - your story is not over yet. The Lord is calling out to you.

Confess, accept forgiveness, and serve Him - however He may be Calling you. You are free indeed.