CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE/Was Peter Beyond Forgiveness?

 It is hard to imagine the depths of Peter's pain as the morning broke and the events of the day unfolded. How he must have reproved himself when Jesus died later that day after hours of torment! Peter must have shuddered to think of how he had added to his Master's pain on what turned out to be the last day of His life as a man. Deep though the abyss of his sadness surely was, Peter did not give in to despair. We know as much because we soon find him in association with his spiritual brothers again. (Luke 24:33) No doubt all the apostles regretted how they had behaved on that dark night, and they brought one another a measure of comfort. 

In a way, we here see Peter in one of his finer moments. When the servant of God falls, what matters most is not the depth of his fall but the strength of his determination to get up again, to set matters straight. (Read Proverbs 24:16) Peter showed genuine faith by gathering with his brothers despite his low spirits. When one is burdened by sadness or regret, isolation is tempting but dangerous. (Proverbs 18:1) The wise course is to stay close to fellow believers and regain spiritual strength. - HEBREWS 10:24,25. 

Next time: CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE/Was Peter Beyond Forgiveness? - Conclusion

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