When Jesus was on trial, Peter, one of His closest followers, stood by watching. Recognized by the crowd, Peter was accused of being a disciple of Jesus. Three times he was challenged, and three times Peter adamantly denied knowing the Lord.
Peter’s betrayal was so crushing that, immediately after his third denial, he heard the rooster crow. Scripture tells us that Peter remembered Jesus’ prophecy—that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed—”and he went out and wept bitterly.” The Greek word for “bitterly” can be translated as “violently.” Peter didn’t just shed tears; he was overcome with such intense remorse and shame for denying the One he loved that his body was violently shaking.
The story, however, does not end with Peter’s guilt. Peter denied Jesus before the crucifixion, and one wonders if his overwhelming shame kept him away from the cross. In Luke’s Gospel, Peter re-enters the narrative after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. When the disciples received the staggering news that the tomb was empty, it was Peter and John who immediately ran to investigate. On the fourth day after his devastating denial, Peter is found running toward the empty tomb—a testament to hope triumphing over despair.
Later, in John’s Gospel, we witness the beautiful scene of Peter’s redemption. Sometime after the resurrection, the disciples had returned to fishing. Peter was still living with the crushing weight of his betrayal, having yet to receive reconciliation. Though he had seen the empty tomb and was present when Jesus appeared to the disciples, his denial had not yet been addressed.
As they were fishing, they saw Jesus standing on the shore. Peter, recognizing Him, didn’t wait for the boat to reach land. He plunged into the water and swam to the Lord.
As they were finishing up breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter and asked, “Do you love me?”
Jesus asked him this question not once, but three times. Each time, Peter’s heart was moved deeper. Why three times? Because Peter had denied Jesus three times, and three times Jesus offered restoration through the question of love. Jesus knew Peter’s heart, but Peter desperately needed to hear himself say what Jesus already knew. He needed to voice his love to heal the wound of his betrayal.
Peter was never too far gone for Jesus’ redemption. His denial did not push Jesus away; in fact, Jesus actively pursued Peter to restore him.
There is nothing we can do that will ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. We are sinners; we fail daily. Yet, Jesus has redeemed us through the Cross. Peter’s full restoration came after the death and resurrection, demonstrating that Jesus had to die to cover the sin. Peter was restored through love and grace, and the cross of Christ is what makes that redemption possible.
Whatever you have done, whatever you have said, there is nothing that will keep you from the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. He is pursuing you, but He will never force you to follow. No matter how far you go, Jesus will always be one step behind, ready to welcome you. He loves you and wants to restore you. All you need to do is look to Him.
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
Selfless Leadership Is Purposeful Leadership 