Then Jesus Turned

Have you ever done something you should not have, only to have someone look at you with a facial expression that reads, "You know you should not have done that"? In that moment, you learn a valuable lesson that makes you remorseful and challenges you to correct your ways. I'd imagine that when Peter saw Jesus look at him after he denied Jesus three times, Peter felt distraught. Luke 22:62 says, "And he went outside and wept bitterly."

Jesus told Peter that this denial would happen. In Luke 22:35 (NIV), Jesus says, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." How would you feel if Jesus told you that? How would you feel when what Jesus said came true? You would think that you are at your lowest point.

So, what can we learn from Peter's lowest point?

The first lesson we learn is to recognize what we did and become remorseful. As I mentioned earlier, Peter wept bitterly. When Jesus heard the denial, Peter knew that he turned his back on a friend. Peter was one of Jesus's core three disciples, and he failed his Teacher. But there is another lesson we can learn.

The second lesson we learn from Peter's lowest point is Jesus forgives and restores us. At the end of his book, John shares the story of how Jesus restored Peter and shared a meal with him (John 21:15-25). Not only that, but Peter, who denied Jesus, preached one of the most powerful messages at Pentecost days later (Acts 2). Jesus used this redemption in Peter to help him become a powerful communicator of the Gospel.

Today, you may be at a low point. But before you give up, ask yourself, "How can Jesus redeem me?” What lessons can you learn from your lowest point, and how can you trust that God will do incredible work for you just as He did in Peter?