John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?

I am caught considering what social pressures I succumb too. The threat was very real for Jesus as He endured His trial, and the potential of the threat was very real for Peter as well. Nevertheless, the pressure of those around him calling him out for being associated with Jesus led Peter to deny Jesus 3 times. So I come to this place humbly considering my own state.

While I do not blatantly deny Jesus in any regard, there are subtle moments I can think back to where I have withdrawn what I know I ought to say or do and don't say or do those things for fear of the people around me. I would not say it was a common thing, but neither was Peter's denial of Jesus. It required repentance regardless. I am encouraged when I look upon Jesus' restoration of Peter and then Peter's boldness to follow in Acts.

There is an undertone through this passage that reveals something about Peter. He didn't really know exactly who Jesus was. Sure he knew a lot concerning Jesus and had some pretty amazing revelations, but the fullness of that stopped short of the full thing. It wasn't until the revelation of the risen Messiah that Peter got it. From that revelation he dwelt with the other 119 disciples in the Upper Room where He received the Spirit and preached with boldness. So let's break down what all it took for Peter to step up into His relationship with the Lord with boldness.

I can see four elements at play here. The first is repentance, then restoration, then revelation, and finally, the move of the Holy Spirit. I am responsible for repentance. The Lord follows up repentance with restoration. By looking upon Jesus we receive revelation concerning who He is. And the Holy Spirit moves in that. Peter eventually was martyred for His faith. His restoration was genuine.

My takeaway from this passage comes about in a round about way. In seeing the contrast of how Peter suffered versus how Jesus suffered here, I reflectively see bits of myself in Peter's cowardice. But my lesson is that I need to be able to suffer like Jesus. He stood and answered when needed. He didn't waver through unbelief. He held fast the mission that His Father gave Him. He held His confidence steadfast to the end. That is what I need to follow. Let me encourage you to do the same. Do not just reflect on your own failure, rather, turn your eyes to Jesus who did it perfectly.

What lesson are you taking away?