Key Thought

Three strikes and you're out. That's true in baseball. That's also true under the law in the United States. It is not true with God's grace. Three strikes and you're broken, but not too broken to be restored. Jesus will confront Peter about his three-fold failure. However, each time Jesus will affirm his value and call him back to useful service. Sin -- failure at our most important commitment, our commitment to God -- is horrible. It brings all sorts of problems into our lives. However, sin does not have the final word in our lives: God's grace does. Jesus died for sinners -- for you and for me! Our sin does not disqualify us from being used by God if we will repent and let holy God remake us into someone fit to serve! So don't give up if you have struck out repeatedly in your walk of faith. Jesus reclaimed Peter and he can reclaim you!

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

Then the soldiers with their commander and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus. They tied Jesus and brought him to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders that it would be better if one man died for all the people. Simon Peter and another one of Jesus' followers went with Jesus. This follower knew the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest's house. But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower that knew the high priest came back outside. He spoke to the girl that opened the gate for people. Then he brought Peter inside. The girl at the gate said to Peter, "Are you also one of the followers of that man (Jesus)?" Peter answered, "No, I am not!" It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire. They were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter was standing with these men. The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers. He asked Jesus questions about the things Jesus taught. Jesus answered, "I have always spoken openly to all people. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple area. All the Jews come together there. I never said anything in secret. So why do you question me? Ask the people that heard my teaching. They know what I said." When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, "You should not talk to the high priest like that!" Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, then tell everyone here what was wrong. But if the things I said are right, then why do you hit me?" So Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest. Jesus was still tied. Simon Peter was standing {at the fire}, keeping himself warm. The other men said to Peter, "Are you one of the followers of that man (Jesus)?" But Peter denied it. He said, "No, I am not." One of the servants of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative to the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The servant said,"I think I saw you with him (Jesus) in the garden!" But again Peter said, "No, I was not with him!" And at that same time a rooster crowed.

— John 18:12-27 (ERV)

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