Second Chances

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34 NIV)

“Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:17 NIV)

Jesus saw something in Peter. Peter messed up.  Jesus put him in charge of what would become the new church.

This is the equivalent of us working with someone for three years on a very special, highly sensitive project. Through thick and thin, overcoming problems, sharing joys, laughing and crying together and just at the time when the project is about to face a high profile blow up, the person says “I never knew them, never worked with them, don’t know what they are talking about.”  Imagine the hurt we’d experience. Then, when we made it through the trouble, we’ve recovered and are back on track….. we turn to the same person who skated by to save their skin and put them in charge of the very same project they abandoned.  We give them full and complete authority, no oversight.  We hand them the keys and say “I trust you.”

That’s what Jesus did with Peter.  And that’s what he does with us every day.  We deny him by our actions and words but he still says “I need your help”. “I trust you.” I can only praise him because he is truly the God of second chances.

By Elaine Kapetankis