In my life I’ve likely heard many comments in sermons if not whole sermons on Peter’s betrayal of Jesus on the night of his trial. You will remember that Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times that night and in spite of Peter’s vehement disavowing of such a possibility, sure enough. Terrified as he was of what could become of him if he identified himself with Jesus, he proceeded to cower before a servant girl and the group of those warming themselves around a fire during Jesus’ trial.
Beyond all doubt it was Peter’s lowest point in his life and following his betrayal we read that we went out and wept bitterly. I don’t think we can measure the depth of how bitter those tears were.
But let’s ask: what was at the heart of his grief? Was it that he had pledged to even die with Jesus and then, in effect, ran scared as soon as he thought harm could come to him? Was it that he had allowed his self-regard to come between him and his loyalty to Jesus?
No doubt these things grieved him beyond words. But I would like to suggest that there was something far more grievous that occurred that night of which I don’t think Peter was at all aware of.
Of course, Jesus wants us to be loyal to him and when we fail to be it is heartbreaking. But I suggest to you that its not because of how it personally offends him or hurts us. It is because at that moment we are no longer working with him to reach the hearts around us with something more of much he cares for them. We’ve abandoned our post, so to speak, and left Jesus to do the work alone in that which he has made us essential to his goal.
You see, from her conception to that very hour, Jesus had been hard at his work of seeking to win that servant girl’s heart to himself and the hearts of those around that fire. And now with Peter right there in that courtyard with them Peter was on a blessed assignment to be his witness to them and advance Jesus’ influence in their hearts. But Peter allowed himself to get caught up in his own world of self-regard and the opportunity was lost. I suggest to you that that loss was the most poignant grief on the scene that night, and it was in Jesus’ heart not Peter’s.
