Monday | 08 June 2026
Peter was able to give this instruction because he had learned this principle from Christ in the court of Caiaphas. In this encounter, Peter received the gift of faith from the Father, which was given to him by Christ. Jas 1:17. The faith that Peter received from the Father was in answer to Christ’s prayer for him. Earlier, at the last Passover meal, the Lord had said to Peter, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed [to the Father] for you, that your faith [received from Him] should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ Luk 22:31‑32.
Peter had claimed that he would die the death of a zealot for Christ, saying to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.’ Luk 22:33. Even after Jesus prophesied concerning Peter’s denial, Peter’s response was, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ Mat 26:35. His zealous, and seemingly noble, avowal was contrary to the word of the Lord to the disciples. Jesus had said that when He was struck, they would be scattered, meaning that they were to return to their houses. Peter’s zeal was, in fact, iniquity; it was not the expression that belonged to his obedience.
Christ’s face was marred ‘more than any man’s’ as He was beaten and bruised for our iniquity and self‑righteous zeal. Isa 52:14. Isa 53:5. Each of Peter’s denials corresponded with a blow to Christ’s face. As Christ ‘turned the other cheek’ in apology to the Father, with each blow, the Law was being taken out of Peter’s hands, and his other law was being disempowered.
When the rooster crowed, Peter met Jesus eye to eye and was illuminated to see the wickedness and failure of his zealotry. However, he also received, as a gift, the repentance that Jesus had finished for him, and the faith to walk in the sanctified obedience that Jesus had become for Him. 1Co 1:30.
Further Study:
Luke 22
References:
Jas 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Luk 22:31-33
And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.’
Mat 26:35
Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples.
Isa 52:14
Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.
Isa 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
1Co 1:30
But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.