Jesus predicts Peter's denial....Not end of story

²⁷ “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’^[d]

²⁸ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

³⁰ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice^[e] you yourself will disown me three times.” Mark 14

I know that Jesus knows everything.  He knows when we rise and when we fall.  He knows when we sin and when we obey.  He knows our fears and our boldness in him.  He knows our weaknesses and our strengths.  He knows our thoughts, both pure and impure.  He also knows our past, present and future.  He has made provision for all of these.

When I read this passage it seems that Jesus almost wanted them to fail.  He flat out tells them, they will not have what it takes when the trial comes. “All will fall away”, he said.  For someone who speaks life, this doesn’t sound like what he should be saying over his disciples.  Instead, I would have liked him to say.  “Guys, get ready.  You are about to have an opportunity to deny me, but I have prayed that you will stand strong”.  But that is not what he said.  He even predicted Peter’s denial with accuracy.

You see I kept looking for hope and I was not finding it.  Until today!  Jesus does not dwell on our failures.  Peter did.  He was convinced that he would never fail by denying Christ. But he did.   Jesus instead gave hope.  “After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  He planted the seed of hope.  He will rise again.  They would remember this statement later to be encouraged.  Also, he would see them all again in Galilee.  Their failure was not the end of their relationship with Jesus.

Jesus knew  they would fall away, but he knew they would regroup.  He could have told them that he was so disappointed that he would choose others who would not fail him.  But he didn’t.  He accepted them after leaving him all alone. And he wanted to be with them again…in Galilee

Jesus knows everything about us.  But there is hope!  His plan for our lives encapsulates our failures.  He is alive and has more for us to do.  Stop focusing on our weakness, sin, or stupid decisions.  Ask for forgiveness and look to a risen Savior.