Peter's Life of New Beginnings ...Continued from page 1

But Jesus changed Peter. As we read the chapters that capture Christ's ministry with the disciples we see that once Jesus began to teach Peter, and whenever Peter was in Christ's Presence, he was different. Jesus transformed his life, and as a result, Peter was to go out proclaiming that life transforming message.

Just think of what Peter learned by being with Christ for those three years.

Peter had walked with Jesus everyday, continuously exposed to the wonders of God in a human body. Imagine being with Jesus who never lost His temper, was always righteously indignant over things that took glory from God; who never cared about Himself, but instead gave Himself to everybody else; who was totally consumed with helping others, even to the point of fatigue; who loved everyone impartially; who possessed such power that He could raise the dead, heal any sickness, give sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf.

That was Peter's personal training by Jesus.

But sometimes in weakness, forgetting about Christ's Presence, Peter would go back to what he was like before. Those moments are also in the Gospel record. When Peter was given awesome spiritual responsibility, all that strong personality added to his big influence over others as a leader?produced a very dangerous combination.

After three years of personal one-on-one training in Christ's presence, after all the absolute confirmations of Christ's power?Peter, the leader of the Twelve denies that he ever even knew Jesus. He becomes a complete failure. As we read earlier, after Gethsemane an unprepared Peter faces temptation and fails. That night becomes...

Peter's Darkest Hour

It is so wonderful to see what Jesus taught Peter in the darkest hour of his life. And if there are ever dark clouds in the days of our lives?we can remember like Peter remembered and like Peter have HOPE for a new beginning!

Peter's denials came after one of the most precious evenings anyone could have spent with Jesus. That is often when all of us face temptations, after great events in our lives. Often we are not even aware that we are so dangerously close to disaster. That is what was going on with Peter. Here was what happened on that incredible night.

First, to have had Jesus Himself wash your feet must have been beyond words. Peter felt so unworthy as he looked down at Christ, girded in the towel of a slave washing his feet. As Peter sat there not knowing what to do and blurting out, "You shall never wash my feet" and then immediately after with a smitten heart saying, "Wash all of me!" Peter looked into the eyes of Jesus filled with love, forgiveness and sorrow (John 13:1-30).

After this riveting experience, and the quick departure of Judas, Peter was able to witness the Last Supper. Jesus added a whole new dimension to the Passover meal; Jesus holding the bread and cup and pointing to His coming sacrifice must have been a profoundly life impacting memory.