HIS LOVE IS GREATER

 

April 10, 2025

 

This Week’s Theme:

Seeing with God’s Eyes

Learning to see the world as God does 

and living in hope, renewal, and restoration.

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John 13:36-38

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

 

Have you ever made a promise to God that you couldn’t or didn’t keep? Maybe you said to God that you would trust Him more, that you would pray more, or live differently with more devotion, only to fall back into old habits. If you have, then you will relate to our verses today.

Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, boldly declared, “I will lay down my life for you.” But Jesus knew Peter’s heart better than Peter knew himself. Instead of condemning him, Jesus responded with truth and love, telling Peter that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times.

Don’t be too hard on Peter, you see Peter had good intentions, but when pressure and fear set in, he faltered. Maybe you’ve been there, wanting to follow Jesus but struggling with doubts, weakness, or failure. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus’ love isn’t dependent on our perfection.

Peter’s story isn’t about failure, it sets the backdrop for an experience of grace. I believe Peter meant what he said, however, he was unable to carry through on his promise. Yet this is not the end for Peter, if you know the rest of the story, Jesus restored him. Even after Peter’s denial, Jesus pursued Peter, extending to him grace and a fresh start.

One of the powerful truths I have discovered in my Christian Walk is that God doesn’t measure our worth by our successes or our failures, rather God looks at our hearts. God’s goodness and love pursues us and calls to fresh starts, reminding us that His love is greater than our mistakes, denials, or unkept promises. 

When we see ourselves as God sees us, we can stop striving for perfection as though God’s promises to us are earned, and instead we can rest in His grace and redemption that tells us we are loved and valued by our creator, that we are on the way to knowing and experiencing all that God intends for us. As we say in worship, as we lift our voices to God, “YOUR GRACE is ENOUGH!” Amen