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." Luke 22:61

As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, March 21, 1965.

Saint Luke tells the unadorned story of Simon Peter's disloyalty. He does not editorialize; he does not have to. The facts speak for themselves: “A servant girl saw [Peter] seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with Him.’ But he denied it, ‘Woman, I don’t know Him,’ he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’ ‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean.’ Peter replied, ‘Man I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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’” (Luke 22:56-61).

Just a look from Jesus and the sell-out is complete. Jesus and Peter know. That is enough. Peter knew what his disloyalty meant, and no amount of bitter tears could make up for what he had done. Christ paid the price for Peter’s disloyalty and ours. He makes it all good, no matter what we have been or done. His cross is your forgiveness.

Simon Peter did not turn away from Christ. He did turn away from himself in that bitter moment when it came to him that he had sold out. Turning away from himself, from what he had been and what he had done, he was on his way to Christ. This is the way of repentance and faith, away from yourself and on your way to Christ.

Jesus, forgive us when we betray You. Help us to be faithful. Amen.

Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Cross (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).

Copyright © 2006 by Lutheran Hour Ministries

*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.

Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 34-36    Luke 1:57-80

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