[Peter said] You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God.
—Matthew 16:16
It was the most painful night of Peter’s life; the night he denied knowing Jesus.
Jesus told Peter that he would deny him.
Peter said he wouldn’t.
He did.
But that’s not the end of the story. Peter faced his failure, admitted his wrong, repented in tears, and was a fearless and faithful spokesman for Jesus at Pentecost and beyond.
Peter was fishing the day Jesus called him to follow him. “From now on,” Jesus told him, “you will catch men.”
Did he ever!
His Pentecost sermon netted a catch of three thousand.
And he’s been catching people ever since, for not one of us has brought anyone to the Lord without quoting Peter.
Don’t say, “If only I hadn’t.”
Say, “Next time, I won’t.”