Are You Willing to Die For Me? by Mike R.

Are You Willing To Die For Me?

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 13:37-38

Peter the one disciple that shows he has the most Faith, but does he really?

Peter the one whom, was always first to answer, and not really know what he was saying. He did truly believe that Jesus was sent from heaven. But then he, in his humanity, began to doubt, began to wonder. Satan had sifted him like wheat.

Peter is probably one of the closest disciples that can relate to you and me. We all will listen to the words of Christ, proclaim the Gospel, help others on the way, but we can all deny Jesus. Peter is also one we should look up to. One whom, gives the example that it's okay to mess up.

One of the most asked questions about Peters denial is, " Why did Peter deny Jesus?" Simply, it was because he was afraid. He was not ready to loose his life for this man. He did not want to die for knowing Jesus.

Although Peter did proclaim it, he didn't put it into practice. Just like the Scribes and Pharasiees, whom Jesus had talked about. " So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." Jesus, knew that eventual Peter would give up his life for him, but he knew it wouldn't happen tonight.

Peter was taken in by Satan.

He denied Jesus because he was frightened.

Then we hear that Peter went away bitterly weeping after the cock crowed three times. At that moment he knew that he was not loyal to his words. He knew what Jesus said came true. Even though, however, he wished they hadn't.

Peter was sad that he betrayed, whom he knew, was the Son Of God. He was called to repentance after Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus made sure 3 times that Peter loved him more than the rest. And after that Jesus secures that he will be the first pope by saying, " Take care of MY sheep"

Judas also does evil in this week. We all know what he does. He hands Jesus over to his enemies for Jesus to be crucified. After the fact once Satan left him, Judas went to hang himself. He had thought he had done a bad thing he could not be forgiven. But, he could have. He was flooded with sorrow and sadness he went and hanged himself.

Peter therefore is certainly the one we should imitate during our life, and Easter as it comes. We have to recognize that we have sinned, feel sorry that we turned against God, and ask for repentance. Certainly unlike the betrayer Judas.

We can be forgiven.

 

~Mike Praytogodtoday.blogspot.ca