JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What can we learn from Peter’s denial of Jesus?”

Just before Jesus went to the cross, He gave Peter an insight into what was happening in the spiritual realm. He said in Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter insisted that he would be loyal to Jesus, even if it meant going to prison or death. But Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew Peter. He said, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” And that is exactly what happened.

There are several bullet point lessons of faith we can learn from this exchange.

Be careful of overestimating the strength of our courage. We are capable of doing grievous things the next day we never anticipated.

We are in a spiritual battle, and Satan is our real enemy.

At the same time, Jesus is our best friend, interceding on our behalf. Our failures are not the end of our story when God’s grace turns us back to Him in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com