Stepping back a moment into the opening days of Jesus’ earthly ministry we take a look at the Apostle who denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed twice:

Luke 9:

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal…

6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen…

18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

The work Jesus was ‘about to accomplish at Jerusalem‘ at the end of His earthly ministry was His Holy Sacrifice of His Body and Blood on the Cross of our Redemption.

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world would die for Peter, the very Apostle who had witnessed Jesus with Moses and Elijah!

Peter, the very Apostle who would deny knowing Jesus three times,  knew with certainty that the man being beaten and bloodied beyond recognition for our many sins was the Messiah, that Jesus IS the Christ Who IS.

To be continued…