Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 11

January 11;   Luke 22:61;   66/260(VI);   ‘Universal & Personal’

Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."     NIV

When the Lord Jesus told His disciples they would all abandon Him, Peter declared that he would never abandon Jesus, even if it meant death.  Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny Jesus three times.  The mob, led by Judas, arrested Jesus after His excruciating ordeal of disciplining His mind, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as to what was about to happen.  Jesus was about to be humiliated, beaten and crucified for us – a universal sacrifice.  Jesus, now in the High Priest’s house, faced the cruelty of the religious leaders.  Then, in the midst of inconceivable events, Jesus heard the rooster crow.  Jesus was about to fulfill His ultimate mission, the salvation of humanity and yet He took a moment to look at Peter who had done exactly what the Lord Jesus said Peter would do, deny Jesus three times.  Jesus came to redeem the human race and that is exactly what He did do.  Nothing could stop that, our eternal destiny with Him was too important for Him to fail.  Jesus’ fulfilling His mission of redemption revealed His universal love for humanity. Taking the time to look at Peter with everything else going on proved His vital interest in each of us personally, as well.  The Lord Jesus is God.  Everything going on in this incredibly busy and complex world is seen and known by Him.  Let this comfort you and build your faith, that the Lord Jesus knows and sees everything.  Thank Him for all of the good things He does for you and trust Him to know the difficult circumstances you face.  His love will see you through.  Peter, restored by Jesus, went on to do great things.  It is the same for you.  Do good, He’ll bless you, mess up, He’ll restore you.