MONDAY, JANUARY 9
Scripture: Matthew 26:30-33

Matthew 26:30-33 says, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’” Peter made it very clear that he considered himself in a class above the other eleven apostles. His statement that, even if all are made to stumble, he never would, was a direct insight into how he felt about his spirituality and commitment as opposed to those of his peers. He saw himself as head and shoulders above everybody else. Jesus addressed this issue repeatedly but was rebuffed. Jesus left Peter to his own devices and prayed for recovery from the failure! The Holy Spirit would work on that aspect of Peter’s self-righteousness. Anyone else who had tried to correct Peter would have probably been verbally blasted by a very offended and astounded apostle. The repeated denial of Christ revealed the heart. Peter was broken! His brokenness paved the way for the Holy Spirit. Peter had to deal directly with God. Peter was being restored in a painful encounter where Jesus demonstrated what Peter was really full of. If that was Jesus’ commitment to Peter, should we not expect the same thing? Jesus is no respecter of persons.