Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
Matthew 26:31-35
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75
Christ knew Peter would deny Him, even if Peter boldly declared he never would. Imagine seeing your friend say “I don’t know you” when you’re undergoing persecution I know my reaction would be “fine! I don’t know you either!” But Christ didn’t do that Jesus loved Peter still! He DIED FOR HIM STILL. He knew Peter had messed up (He even told Peter he was going to) but there Jesus hung, beaten, His blood washing away the sins of those who denied Him. Picture Christ nailed to a cross looking at all those who have denied him, saying, it’s okay, I still love you. “…Father, forgive them for they know not what they do…” Luke 23:34
And so I challenge you to never give up on those who have given up on you. Be Christ-like and love them no matter what they’ve done to you. “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
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