From Denial To Restoration
LENT 2025 DEVOTIONAL:
John 18:1-40 (NIV)
(Irwin Seet, Chairperson, Worship and Music)
When I read this passage, I often feel a sense of disappointment in how Peter denied Jesus three times in the face of fear and pressure. After all, this was the disciple who had confidently vowed to stand by Jesus through thick and thin, even to the point of death.
However, when I reflect on Peter’s actions, I realise that I often resemble Peter in denying Jesus in various ways, even if not as dramatically or overtly as Peter did in the courtyard. While I may never outright say, “I do not know Him”, my actions and attitudes often reflect moments of denial which are often driven by fear, comfort or conveniences. Some examples include:
– Denying Jesus through my silence or inaction – this happens when I do not speak up or avoid difficult conversations about faith or shrink back from sharing the gospel or standing for truth out of fear of judgement, rejection or discomfort.
– Denying Jesus through compromise – this happens when I compromise my values and beliefs to fit in with societal pressures or to avoid conflict.
– Denying Jesus through self-sufficiency – this happens when I rely too much on my own strength, wisdom or plans rather than seeking His guidance and trusting in His provisions.
In Matthew 26:75, it reports that when Peter heard the rooster crow, he remembered the words Jesus had spoken and, struck with a deep sense of guilt and remorse, he wept bitterly. After His resurrection, Jesus sought out Peter, not to reprimand or condemn him, but to restore him. In a tender moment on the shores of Galilee, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” – a direct mirror of his 3 denials. Each time Peter responds affirmatively, and with each response, Jesus affirms his calling, “Feed my sheep” (John 21: 15-17). Jesus doesn’t just forgive Peter; He reinstates him, giving him a new purpose and mission. This exchange reveals that no failure is too great to be redeemed, and God’s love is always greater than our mistakes.
Through my reflections, I have learnt Peter’s denial is not just about failure but of profound grace. When I have denied Him through silence and inactions, through compromise or through self-sufficiency, I will ask for God’s forgiveness and restoration. I believe that His love and forgiveness offers me the opportunity to rise again, restored and renewed, to fulfill His purpose for my life.
Reflection Questions:
1. When you fail or sin, do you allow yourself to experience God’s forgiveness and restoration, or do you remain stuck in guilt and shame?
2. In moments of pressure or fear, do you stand firm in your commitment to Jesus, or do you, like Peter, deny Him in small ways?
3. How do you respond to God’s call in your life, especially after you have failed? Do you trust that He can restore you and still use you for His purposes?
