Forgiveness is the end...

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. - Matthew 26:57-75

Quite often the best thing to do is to keep your mouth shut. Questions get asked that the answer, regardless of how you respond, will condemn you. Peter should have learned that prior to his statement that he would defend Christ to the death. He already had watched as his Friend was taken into custody. Many believe he was the one to draw his sword in the garden, but now he is left with just watching from a distance to "see the end."

He was there at the beginning. He was one of the first called to be a disciple. He stood on the Mount of Transfiguration where he wished to dwell with Whom he had seen. He watched the loaves and fishes multiply. He confessed to Jesus that He is the Christ. Now he watches as the Sanhedrin tries to get what they want. They call for witnesses, not knowing that one was there who could testify about this Carpenter from Nazareth.

False witnesses could not be found. Possibly they contradicted each other or the testimony was not enough to satisfy. Finally Caiaphas looks this Jesus in the eye and asks the question that Peter had already answered, "Are you the Christ?" His response, "You say so", adds fire to their anger but leaves them with the truth. He made the case, the case that Peter may have forgotten, and now they are to fulfill Christ's position as the culmination of the promise found in Abraham.

Peter fails again though. It says he wished to see the end. He only saw Him condemned to die. He thought that was the end. In haste he leaves only to be discovered as one of the Twelve. As one who should be honored to be numbered among the friends of the Savior. But he adheres to Christ prophetic announcement that even he, Peter, the rock, the one who made known the confession of the faith which saves us from our sins, denies the only Lord who lives to save us all.

Upon his departure he had seen only an addendum to the beginning. It was not until the day when all was finished in Christ's death for you and I that the end came. When the tomb was found to be empty by the women, and by Peter and John. It was there that the end came. He must not have realized until then that he had seen all that must be seen. The life of the Son of God who came to deliver us. The death which redeems all creation. The resurrection which draws us to Him. Peter sought out for the end in that judgement chamber that evening. What boldness he may have had if he had known that the end meant forgiveness for all.

TW