Sinner: Simon
Peter was a conflicted man. In and of himself, he was no Rock. He followed the
Lord, but only from a distance (Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54). He seemed devoted to
the Lord (John 18:12), but was actually just curious (Matt. 26:58). He defended
the Lord (John 18:10), but He also denied Him (John 18:25-27). He sought both self-preservation
and loyalty to Jesus simultaneously. Add to his confused inner-conflict
cowardice,[1]
dishonesty,[2] and
disloyalty,[3] and you
get the full picture. This sort of compromise was exactly what Jesus said would
earn him a definite condemnation before the Father (Matt. 10:32-33). What hope
was there for a wretched and feeble sinner like Simon, except that Jesus prayed
for him (Luke 22:31-32)? The Lord’s intercession was what ensured repentance,
redemption, and restoration for this man.[4]
Savior: The able Savior was nothing like Peter. His actions exuded clarity (of direction and mission), courage under fire, integrity under duress, and sustained loyalty amid intimidation.[5] While the sinner was racking up sin upon sin, the Savior was bearing up under the load of his sin until He carried it all to Calvary and paid down the sinner’s debt through His cross (Col. 2:14). Moreover, Jesus sent the Spirit to redeem sinners from their bondage[6] to sin to become “a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master” (2 Tim. 2:21). Jesus alone makes a coward into a courageous martyr (John 21:18-19).
[1] He denied the Lord before a female slave
doorkeeper (John 18:17) who could do him no harm.
[2] He repeatedly lied in his denials even with
swearing and cursing (Matt. 26:74; Mark 14:71).
[3] He acted contrary to his pledge to die for
the Lord (Matt. 26:33; Mark 14:29; Luke 22:33; John 13:38).
[4] For Jesus’ intercessory prayer, cf. Luke 22:31-32;
Heb. 7:25. For Peter’s restoration, cf. John 21:15-17.
[5] He guarded His disciples and ensured
their safety while endangering Himself (John 18:8-9).
[6] Jesus’ ministry was about this very thing
(Mark 2:17; John 8:31; also 1 Thes. 4:3; 2 Tim. 2:19; Tit. 2:12, 14).