The Grace of His Faithfulness June 26, 2016
Matthew 26:31-38 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Judas betrayed Him and the Roman soldiers arrested Him.
Luke 22:54-62 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Jesus knew Peter was going to fail. God knows you better than you know yourself. This moment was so powerful because the love and mercy were so abundant. That mercy would last a lifetime, to encourage him over and over, and to be the overcomer God chose him to be. The gentle eyes of the Lamb are upon you. Even in the midst of Peter rejecting Him, His eyes spoke, I will never leave you or forsake you. Jesus went to the cross to take care of it all. This is to all of us. His eyes do not condemn you, they say, “I love you”. The grace of God never let Peter go. It strengthened his heart and three days later he ran to the tomb to see Jesus was gone. He didn’t sit in depression, he fellowshipped. This bothers some as they don’t like when you get the victory fast. The devil wants to keep you down, but even when you’ve been doing something you shouldn’t, God does not forsake us.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Peter embraced victory. This is the victory overcomers will take time and time again. Right after Jesus told Peter he would deny Him they went to Gethsemane – a prayer meeting. This is how Peter got the victory. There is power in His name. Jesus, the One that has all favor with God, prays for me. Praise Him for His mercy and grace. He is changing me from glory to glory. The Lord never leaves you alone.
The meaning of Gethsemane is “the oil press”. The oil speaks of anointing. It can only be received when we are so low that the only place we can go is up. A failure so great like David and Bathsheba. A place where Jesus’ amazing love can be the only thing that meets us. By the Spirit there is a crushing of our hearts, not in guilt but where it presses so much there is nothing left but a ravishing. The grace of His faithfulness. Even when you believe not, He abides faithful. Lord, take me to Gethsemane. He gives grace to the humble. Will you come? There isn’t much time.
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