“THREE TIMES!”

 Luke 22:31-34                                         (ESV)

“31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

32 but I have prayed for you that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. AND  WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS."

33 Peter said to HIM, "LORD, I am ready to go with YOU both to prison and to death."

34 JESUS said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny “THREE TIMES” that you know ME."

My view on the affairs of our nation and the world.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says “In their case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the “unbelievers”, to keep them from SEEING the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, WHO is the IMAGE of GOD.”  So “unbelievers” cannot SEE, for they have been blinded.  Even though they cannot SEE, they will be accountable for rejecting JESUS, as Romans 1:20 says “So they are without excuse”!

However, l see some Believers that are being “sifted” (Luke 22:31) by the devil just as Peter was right before JESUS was arrested and crucified.  Scripture is very plain that the PLAN OF GOD was fulfilled so meticulously that the crucifixion was performed at the EXACT TIME in HIStory to fulfill numerous prophecies.  Peter had demonstrated THE FAITH that JESUS said HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH ON (Matthew 16:18).  Now Peter was denying he even knew JESUS “THREE TIMES” as part of GOD’S PLAN.  

Can you just imagine how Peter must have felt being told by THE CREATOR that the FAITH he exhibited would be what HIS CHURCH would be built upon?  Now imagine having the opportunity to STAND for JESUS and willingly DENYING that you even knew WHO HE was?  But it ALL had to happen JUST AS IT DID for GOD’S PLAN to be fulfilled. 

GOD hasn’t relinquished HIS THRONE and HE hasn’t succumbed to the evil hearts of man!  Peter was informed by JESUS that HE had “prayed for you that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL” so that Peter could STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS!  In John 17:9 JESUS prayed for us too, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom YOU have given ME, for they are YOURS.”  

It was probably confusing and profoundly stressful for the disciples to experience the crucifixion of JESUS.  And the tremendous INJUSTICE has never been matched!!!  But it was part of GOD’S PLAN, and that worked out wonderfully for ALL MANKIND.  GOD’S PLAN is STILL being fulfilled, even though we cannot understand why somethings are happening.  Just as Peter had to deny JESUS “THREE TIMES”, we will have to remember that JESUS prayed for us that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL!!!