By 
The sun was setting, and the meal had been prepared. Jesus and His friends gathered around a table and began to take part in the most significant unfolding of events in the history of the world.
What a moment that must have been: theAll-Knowing One gazed into the eyes and hearts of each of His followers, knowing everything that was to come in the hours – and centuries – ahead. And the disciples, some still scrambling for power, others blinded by pride, were unaware they were in the presence of the final Passover Lamb.
The mood in the room moved from feasting with friends to growing tension over an uncertain future. Arguments among the disciples about their greatness signaled the unrest. Into their distraction Jesus spoke a warning about a demand from the demonic realm.
In Matthew’s and Mark’s record of the Passover, Jesus says to the disciples, “You will all fall away because of me this night.” Pridefully Peter responds, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus then gives Peter specifics about his imminent denial, and again with pride Peter says to Jesus, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:31-35, ESV).
Luke 22, however, has the most revealing and detailed account. If you read it with Christ’s humanity in mind, you can feel the sadness as Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34, ESV).
Jesus’ words surely left Peter’s head spinning, but these prophetic truths would eventually become the building blocks of a faith that could withstand any test.
The image Jesus used of sifting is significant. As originally intended—what a farmer does with the harvest—it is a good thing. We cannot get to what’s useful to our bodies without the sifting process. So it is with trials. God allowed this temporary failure to begin a permanent transformation in Peter’s heart.
Later we see the bold disciple weep when he comes face-to-face with the sin His Savior predicted (Luke 22:54-62). He was not the man he thought he was. And thankfully, he was never the same again.
That’s the expectation for us as well. When we see our sin for what it is, it’s supposed to break our hearts. There is no condemnation, but we are to be filled with godly sorrow that leads us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). And this is a process that happens over and over throughout the course of our lives.
Peter abandoned Jesus during His darkest hour on earth; but we serve a Savior who seeks and saves, in spite of our faithlessness. Remember John 21: the resurrected Jesus sought out Peter, who’d gone back to catching fish—maybe all he felt worthy of doing—and restored His friend over breakfast by the Sea of Galilee, telling him to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-19).
“On this rock I will build my church”, the pronouncement Jesus spoke over Peter the “rock” in Matthew 16:18, was given with the events of his life in full view, and it was not undone by Peter’s sin. Peter’s denial of Jesus was a part of his story, but it was not the end of it. Peter became more of the man he was created to be because of his failings.
Could Jesus have prevented Peter’s sin of denial from ever happening in the first place? Absolutely. But here is what the Reverend Armand Miller has to say about that: “Some men can be taught no otherwise than by failure. Could this self-deceived, impetuous, untried Peter ever have strengthened his brethren as the chastened, instructed, rescued Peter did? Count upon it, God has a purpose in suffering us to be tried—a purpose for ourselves and for our influence.”
So when we read Peter’s sermon in Acts 3, we know he says this with confidence: Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (v.19, NIV).
And what do you think was on Peter’s mind when he wrote his letter to the Christian exiles some 30 years after his restoration on the seashore:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you...Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.Resist him, firm in your faith...And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11, ESV)
That’s what a healed heart looks like. That’s redemption.
Our Father knows our weakness and our need; He knows at what point we will choose to depend completely on Him instead of on ourselves. In His grace and by His Spirit God confronts us with our sin, lovingly burns off the dross in our hearts, and strengthens us to glorify Him in all things.
The Passover meal was a foretaste of glory not only for Peter, but for us as well. In His final hours Jesus continued on His path of humility, placing our spiritual poverty above His majesty. His body and blood would be broken and poured out. This meal was a prelude and memorial to the suffering He would endure and the gift He would freely give so that we, too, could be forgiven, restored, and redeemed.
Leslie Strader
Leslie Strader is a freelance writer and editor, and for 10 years was the Women’s Bible Study Coordinator of Bethel Bible Church. She has authored two Bible studies for Big Dream Ministries (https://www.bigdreamministries.org) - The Amazing Life of Jesus Christ and Empowered: The Amazing Church of Jesus Christ - along with several others as part of Bethel’s WBS Curriculum Writing Team. She and her husband Ross have been married since 1995 and have three children. Leslie loves spending time with her family, cooking (not baking!), and the pursuit of wisdom and joy in Christ with fellow believers. 
