Repenting from sin can uniquely position us to strengthen others in ways that those who have not battled for righteousness cannot. This is exactly what Peter faced when Jesus said to him in Luke 22:31-34:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
Matthew 26:33 includes Peter’s statement, “… Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away,” declaring his love and loyalty to be superior to that of all the other apostles.
Notice that Jesus did not pray for the temptation to be removed from Peter. Instead, He prayed that Peter’s faith would remain steadfast even though he would fail the trial.
Most astonishingly, Jesus added, “… when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Wow! Jesus knew that Peter would fail the test and deny Him, but instead of saying, “Be sure not to fail, or you will be disqualified from helping others,” Jesus said, after you have turned back to Me, strengthen your brothers. Jesus emphasized that after Peter failed and returned, he would be uniquely qualified to help his brothers. Yet, we often believe that we are disqualified from helping others after we have failed.
After His resurrection, Jesus wanted to affirm strongly that Peter was not disqualified and commissioned him to fulfill his calling. In John 21:15-17, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me more than these?” Jesus’ question directly addressed Peter’s claim to love Him more than the other disciples, as stated in Matthew 26:33. Two more times, Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?” The first two times, Jesus inquired whether Peter loved Him with ‘agapao,’ meaning God’s unconditional love. The third time, Jesus asked if Peter had ‘phileo,’ which refers to brotherly affection and love for Him. All three times, Peter responded that he had ‘phileo,’ brotherly love and fondness for Jesus. Peter’s failure showed him the limits of his ability to love Jesus. Now he saw himself accurately, and although Peter was grieved that Jesus had asked him three times, he refused to overstate his love for Jesus.
Peter’s failure and return did not affect Jesus’ plans for him in the slightest. To the contrary, his newfound humility qualified him to strengthen his brothers. Three times, Jesus responded to Peter, saying, “Tend My lambs.” “Shepherd my sheep.” “Tend My sheep.” In other words, “Don’t look at your failure, do what I always had planned for you to do for My sake and the sake of the Kingdom.”
Our willingness to confess and repent for our sins and weaknesses will benefit us by reminding us of our complete dependence on God’s grace, and it will provide us with the humility, wisdom, and grace needed to aid others. In our weakness, He is made strong. If we hide our sins and stubbornly refuse to turn back to the Lord, we will remain stuck in bondage to darkness and evil.
This incident illustrates the significant difference between Judas Iscariot and Peter. Judas felt “remorse,” but he did not repent and turn back to Jesus. He chose to maintain control of his life, ultimately leading to his suicide. Peter, on the other hand, repented, returned to faithfully follow Jesus, and went on to change the world.
Pray with me.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this dramatic example of Your grace toward our failures and Your desire for us to co-labor with You in Your Kingdom. Please enable me to remain steadfast in believing Your grace toward me, ready to fulfill all the good works You prepared for me before I was born.