Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60-62 NIV).

Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, didn't weep merely because Jesus' words had come true. He was upset because he felt that he had let Jesus down by denying Him. (Earlier that day, during the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter he would reject Him. Peter vehemently refuted the possibility that he could reject his Lord. Read Luke 21:31-34).

Peter had illusions about himself. He didn't think he was capable of denying Jesus. When he realized later (after he had denied Christ) that his false impressions were, in fact, false, he was crushed, thinking that Jesus had realized this flaw in Peter's character for the first time too. But, the truth is, Jesus knew about Peter's denial before it happened and didn't love Peter any less because Peter had just discovered this thing about himself.

The same is true with any sins or other issues in our own lives. Even if I'm surprised and discouraged by the reality of a sin Jesus has revealed to me, He's not. You're not a disappointment to Him because of that issue in your life. He knew about both before either of us was formed in our mother's womb. And, at specific times in our lives, He brings us to the point where He can reveal that sin or issue so that He can bring us to repentance and cause us to flee from that sin.

That's what Easter is all about...He suffered torture and death on a cross and rose again three days later, conquering sin and death. He did this to pay the penalty for that sin or issue He revealed to us recently. He suffered, died and rose again so that He could truly have the authority to say, "I love you. Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48). Go and sin no more (John 8:11)."

This Easter season, rather than getting down on yourself for the sin(s) Jesus has just revealed to you, rejoice that He loves you enough to (a) reveal it to you and (b) forgive you for it. Be willing to be honest with yourself, see your sin and repent from it. Then, truly believe in and accept His forgiveness and unconditional love.

-Natalie Grillo

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love....he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8,10-12).

© 2003 Kingdom Building Ministries.