There is no New Testament person I identify with more than Peter. Impulsive, short-tempered, driven by emotion, the pre-resurrection Peter reminds me a lot of the face I see in the mirror every morning. He is given to fear, even in the presence of Jesus. Remember him on the water, in the garden, in the courtyard, at the cross. He can’t hold it together, especially when he probably needed to the most.
He had one chance, two chances, three to clear the air and let the suspicious bystanders know that he was with the Man on trial. He’d given his life to following Jesus, had confessed the words we love, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68). But fear was tempered with anger when he gave up his Lord for his own wretched safety. His denials revealed themselves for the betrayal they were when the rooster crowed and Jesus looked directly at him from the cross.
What did Peter do that night? When Jesus died and they buried Him in a borrowed tomb, what was Peter thinking? My husband and I were talking about this yesterday, on Good Friday when the Light of the world was snuffed out. I put myself in Peter’s position and on this Saturday of waiting I feel the grief and sorrow and utter revulsion of his own despicable self. I know myself well enough to know that had I been trailing Jesus so closely, I’d have saved my own skin at any cost. All day and all night, Peter must have waited and mourned and wondered if his life was worth living anymore.
Can you imagine if you’d chosen yourself over the One sent to save you?
I have chosen myself over the One sent to save me. More times than I can count, I’ve chosen my perceived safety over my Savior. I understand Peter because in so many ways I am like him. It would be easy to sink down in the depths of my rejection of Christ. I can’t imagine what Saturday must have been like for Peter. If only he’d done things differently, if only he’d championed for Jesus, if only he’d wielded his impulsiveness for good, if, if, if.
Well, Jesus would still have gone to the cross willingly because the cross was always the plan. The plan was always to cover Peter’s cowardly self-preservation with blameless blood of the one Peter denied. The plan was always to wear the weight of Peter’s rejection and yours and mine upon the shoulders of a sinless Jewish man who left heaven to become our curse.
Saturday must have been a wretched, dark, heavy, horrifying day for Peter.
So imagine what Sunday must have been like.
Saturday must have been a wretched, dark, heavy, horrifying day for Peter. So imagine what Sunday must have been like. Share on XAfter the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter. One time, two times, three. It’s not coincidental. Jesus was aware of every betrayal, knew of them before Peter did. And yet, He commissioned Peter to love Him by shepherding the Church. I can see Him taking Peter aside. I can see the broken, ashamed look on Peter’s face and the way Jesus strengthened and restored him. I can see the way forgiveness wipes away the gravest of past transgressions.
I’ve been studying 1 Peter for all of March. I didn’t mean it to be a Lenten activity, but somehow it was. I marvel at what post-resurrection Peter is like. Wearing the righteousness of Christ rather than the wretchedness of his betrayal, Peter shines brightly with an identity anchored securely in the resurrected Savior. You and I are not unlike Peter, both the pre-resurrection and the post-resurrection versions. The difference is Jesus. The difference is His death wiping away our sins and His resurrection making us new.
We needed Friday to see Him die, Saturday to grieve our sin, and Sunday to be restored.
We needed Friday to see Him die, Saturday to grieve our sin, and Sunday to be restored. Share on X
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness (Crossway), and Memorizing Scripture (Moody). Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.