“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
Seeing Betrayal in the Mirror
Have you ever looked in the mirror and been appalled by the person looking back at you? You looked in your eyes and saw someone you never wanted to be – someone you promised yourself you never would become. Perhaps you saw a man treating his children the same broken, hurtful way your father treated you. Maybe you looked in the mirror and saw a woman who broke a promise. It could be you looked to see eyes emptied of hope by a thousand failures, dulled by addiction, or consumed with uncontrollable anger. Have you ever looked in the mirror only to be compelled to look away by overwhelming shame at what you have done, or who you have become?
As Peter sat at the Last Supper with the other disciples, Jesus held up a mirror to his heart and showed Peter a part of himself he could not believe existed. Jesus said to Peter, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Peter didn’t believe it. He believed that not only would he never deny Jesus, but he would go to prison and even die for Jesus. Peter believed he would never betray his Lord in such a terrible way.
So it must have been with the utmost horror that Peter saw events unfold over the coming hours. After the last supper, Jesus and the disciples travelled to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went to pray. He said to Peter, James, and John, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:39b) Jesus returned from praying "and he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Matthew 26:40-41). Despite this warning, Peter fell asleep again and the next time he awoke a mob of people were approaching Jesus.
Peter tried to protect Jesus by attacking the servant of the high priest with his sword, but Jesus rebuked him. Overwhelmed by fear and confusion, Peter fled along with the other disciples. Peter found himself an anonymous spectator in the crowd following Jesus through his trial. But he would not remain anonymous for long. A servant girl recognized him and asked if he was among Jesus disciples. Peter denied it and moved to another area until another servant girl came up to him and said, “This man was with Jesus.” Peter again denied knowing Jesus. Finally, a group of people approached him and said, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” At this, Peter called curses down on himself saying, “I do not know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed and in that rooster crow Peter saw who he was, he saw the man he promised he would never be, and he went outside and wept.
When you look in the mirror, do you see a person you promised you would never be? Have you lost hope that you could ever change? Jesus did not leave Peter in hopeless shame. He prayed for Peter, called Peter to repentance, and entrusted to Him the care of His church. Jesus invites you to repent and be restored just as Peter was. Jesus wants to take your sins and failures and turn them around so you can strengthen others who are struggling. Don’t let sin and shame leave you hopeless. Turn to Jesus and He will work through the failures in your life to make you a blessing to others.