September 28, 2022

Luke 22: 34 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Does Jesus need . . . to warn and disturb us by saying that before this day – or at least this week – is over some . . . will deny by word or deed that they know him?

In the Back to the Future movies, Doc Brown was always concerned about Marty disturbing the “space-time continuum.” I’m thankful that time travel isn’t a vacation option because the repercussions would be disastrous on all levels!

In the last days of Jesus’ ministry on earth, Peter had the opportunity to mess with that space-time thing a bit. When Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times in one day, Peter could have changed the course of history by stubbornly refusing to fulfill the prophecy. Of course, Jesus wouldn’t have predicted it if he wasn’t going to do it . . . see, this is why I didn’t like Back to the Future.

Would it change our behavior if Jesus looked us in the eye and predicted how many times we will deny him today? Perhaps we can’t undo a prediction but when we hear that rooster crow, shouldn't it remind us to be more faithful the next day? That’s the beauty of life in Christ – every day is a do-over. Turn your back on him today and he gives you the chance to make it right tomorrow. We should, like Peter, be horrified by what we have done to our Savior, but repentance allows us the opportunity for a future that doesn’t include betrayal. Peter did it. So can we.

The first step after a stumble must be in the direction of the cross.*