friends of steemit greetings that the peace of God more in your heart, in this post I want to highlight how Pedro learned what forgiveness means.
1. What must have been the worst moment in Pedro's life?
PEDRO can never forget that look of Jesus. Have you detected in your eyes any trace of disappointment or reproach? Actually we do not know, because the inspired story only says that "the Lord turned and looked at Peter" (Luke 22:61). But that single glance was enough for the apostle to understand the seriousness of his error. He had just passed what Jesus had predicted, what Peter himself said would never happen: he had denied his beloved Master. This is, surely, the worst moment of the worst day of his life. Pedro feels that, in truth, lower could not have fallen.
2. What valuable lesson did Peter learn, and how can his painful experience help us?
2 Now, was everything all lost? Of course not, because later Pedro was given the opportunity to correct his mistakes. And because he was a man of great faith, he took advantage of that opportunity and, what is more important, he was able to learn from Jesus what true forgiveness means. In fact, that is a valuable lesson that we all need to understand, and the painful experience that Peter went through can help us to do so.
He had much to learn about forgiveness.
3, 4. a) What question did Peter ask Jesus, and what is it likely that the apostle would believe? b) How did Jesus make Peter see that he had let himself be influenced by people's way of thinking?
3 About six months before, while they were in Capernaum, the city where Peter lived, he had asked Jesus: "Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I will forgive him? Up to seven times? " Without a doubt, Pedro believed himself to be very generous, since the religious leaders taught that only someone should be forgiven three times. But to his surprise, Jesus replied, "I do not say to you, Up to seven times, but: Up to seventy-seven times" (Matt 18:21, 22).
4 Was Jesus confirming that he should keep track of others' mistakes? No, quite the opposite. By converting 7 Peter into 77, he was actually saying that true love does not put limits on forgiveness (1 Cor 13: 4, 5). Jesus wanted to make the apostle see that he had let himself be influenced by the insensitive and resentful way of thinking of other people, who kept the account of forgiveness as if it were a debt book. But those who imitate God must be much more generous and noble in their forgiveness (read 1 John 1: 7-9).
5. At what times do we better understand how valuable forgiveness is?
5 Peter did not contradict his Master, but will those words have reached his heart? The truth is that sometimes we can only understand how valuable forgiveness is when we desperately need to be forgiven. That's what happened to Peter just before Jesus died. In those crucial hours he often needed Jesus to forgive him.
Forgiven again and again
6. How did Peter react when Jesus tried to teach the apostles to be humble, but how did Jesus treat him?
6 That was a very important night, the last night of Jesus as a human being on Earth. And he still had a lot to teach his apostles. To begin with, he gave them a beautiful lesson in humility. How? Washing their feet, a task that was customary to perform only the servants of lower condition. At first, Peter questioned what Jesus was doing. Then he refused to wash his feet, then, at the explanation of Jesus, insist that he also wash his hands and head. Instead of losing patience, Jesus calmly explained to his apostles the meaning and relevance of their actions (John 13: 1-17).
7, 8. a) How did Peter continue to test the patience of Jesus? b) In what way did Jesus continue to demonstrate kindness and understanding?
7 Soon, Peter put Jesus' patience to the test one more time. Among the apostles, a discussion broke out about which of them was the most important, and surely Peter also participated in this shameful display of pride. However, Jesus corrected them with love and even congratulated them for their loyalty, for having faithfully stayed with them. But he also told them that they would later abandon him. Immediately, Peter responded by assuring him that he would always remain with his Master and that he was even willing to give his life for him. Jesus, on the other hand, told him that the opposite was going to happen: that same night, before a rooster sang twice, Pedro would deny three times that he knew him. Then, the apostle not only contradicted Jesus, but boasted that he was going to prove more faithful than all the rest (Matt.26: 31-35; Mar. 14: 27-31; Luke 22: 24-28; John 13: 36-38).
8 It is surprising that Jesus did not lose patience. In fact, although they were very difficult moments for him, he kept looking at the virtues of those imperfect men. He knew that Peter was going to fail him, and yet he said: "I have made a plea for you so that your faith does not falter; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers "(Luke 22:32). How much goodness and understanding Jesus showed! He trusted that Peter would recover spiritually and faithfully serve God again.
9, 10. a) Why did Peter need to be corrected in the Garden of Gethsemane? b) What does Pedro's actions clearly demonstrate?
9 Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter had to be corrected several times. Jesus asked him, James and John to stay alert while praying, because he felt deeply distressed and needed more than ever the support of his friends. However, they fell asleep again and again. Even so, Jesus forgave them and, full of tenderness and compassion, told them: "The spirit, of course, is soon, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14: 32-41).
10 A short time later, a crowd arrived with torches, swords and clubs. There is no doubt that it was time to act with care and good judgment. But what did Pedro do? Just the opposite! He hastily drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the slave of the high priest. However, Jesus did not lose his calm on this occasion, but corrected Peter with kindness and healed the wound of that man. In addition, he told his disciples that they should not resort to violence, a principle that Christians follow to this day (Matthew 26: 47-55, Luke 22: 47-51, John 18:10, 11). How many times did Peter put Peter's patience to the test! The actions of this apostle demonstrate a great truth: we all sin again and again (see James 3: 2). Is there anyone in the world who does not have to apologize to God every day? For Pedro, however, that night was not over yet. The worst was still missing.
11, 12. a) Why do we say that Peter showed courage after they arrested Jesus? b) In what sense did Peter not fulfill what he had promised?
11 Jesus tells the crowd to let their apostles go, because it is he they seek. Seeing that he can not do anything to prevent them from taking his Master, Pedro flees along with the others.
12 After a while, Pedro and Juan stop fleeing. Perhaps they stop near the house of Annas - who had been a high priest - because it was there where Jesus was first taken for questioning. When Jesus is moved to another place, Peter and John follow him, but "from afar" (Matthew 26:58, John 18:12, 13). You can not say that Peter is a coward. After all, it takes courage to dare to follow an armed crowd. Also, do not forget that he had already hurt one of them. Nevertheless, where was the loyalty of which he had so presumed? He had even claimed that he was willing to give his life for Jesus! (Mar. 14:31.)
13 What is the only way to follow Christ correctly?
13 Like Peter, today many people follow Christ "from afar"; They do not want others to notice. But, as Peter himself later wrote, the only way to follow Christ properly is to keep us as close as possible to him. We must follow his example at all times, without fear of consequences (read 1 Peter 2:21).
1 Peter 2:21
For to this you were called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his footsteps;
14. How can we imitate Peter's faith and the compassion of his Master?
14How important it is that we all learn that lesson! Do we daily ask forgiveness from God for our mistakes? Do we accept that forgiveness sure that it erases what we have done? Do we forgive others? Thus we will imitate the faith of Peter and, above all, the great compassion of his Master.
God bless you 