The Simon Peter Principle

“But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.”

Mark 14:29-31

None was the wiser.

God Himself prophesied the time and place that Simon Peter’s strength crumbled. Though Peter flaunted great fortitude and capability, he only trusted what he could understand. So that night, after a late night prayer watch, Peter became confused, embarrassed, and offended by the One whom he had left everything to follow. (For details see Luke 22:36 and John 18:11)

Do you suspect that the Omniscient Christ knew about this flaw? Do you think that the Almighty allowed this to show Peter’s weakness?

What if the Lord God targeted- even exploited- this fault in Simon Peter?

Once, twice, three times: rejection.

“I know not the man.” The young rooster sounds. A disappointed gaze. A broken heart. And the longest night of his life– longer than the night he spent fishing and catching nothing; longer than the night he spent in the storm toiling in rowing; longer than the night spent watching and praying. “He went out, and wept bitterly.”

But he sorrowed after a godly sort. His tears soothed the wound in his soul and brought him sopping wet (John 21) to a fireside chat with the One whom he loved yet misunderstood.

Once, twice, three times: restoration.

“Lovest thou me?” A new kind of joyful grief washed away the judgmental guilt in Peter’s heart. The Lord still loved him. The Lord had a job for him.

But the Lord had to affirm that He could trust him. As bad as Peter’s failure was against Jesus Christ, it was necessary for Simon Peter’s sake. Peter had to know where his weakness was, so he could understand where Christ’s strength began. The Lord ascended back into Heaven, and sent Peter to the refiner.

Once, twice, three times: reproved.

Peter paid for his reestablished faith in Christ. He spends his first night in jail in Acts 4:3. He was threatened to NEVER speak of Christ again, then released. He preached again, and spends his next night in jail in Acts 5:18. An angel let them out early; for the privilege they were beaten. Peter could not keep his mouth closed, and Acts 12 finds him in jail for the third time. For days he laid, bound between two soldiers with the bloody death of James looming in his own future.

The angel visited again, but Peter was in no hurry to leave. He slept like a baby. Dr. Ruckman often said, “A clean conscience makes the softest mattress.” Peter had been convicted by his conscience, cleansed by the word, and now he lay comforted by the Holy Spirit. He’d passed the test.

It took time in prison to restore his courage.

Jesus’ entire dealing with Peter specifically targeted his fault. Christ called out his failure for all to see. His biggest fear had to be faced.

Once, twice, three times: preaching repentance.

For God had a special mission with a sharp message for Peter, the Apostle to the Jews. Let’s read it together before we part, Acts 3:12-15:

“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”

Acts 3:12-15

Peter’s second message outside Solomon’s Porch came from a strength NOT found in Peter. The Holy Ghost spake through his regenerated soul and gave him the courage to confront his own sin. Not avoid it, not excuse it, not get past it, but confront it directly, boldly,

…and in other people.

“But there were also false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

2 Peter 2:1

The Lord never intended for Peter’s denial to be the end of him. In order to get him preaching, he had to repair his broken heart. When God begins the reproving and restoring principle in your life, can you submit to it?

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