Inspired by Luke 22

Sitting in the courtyard, staying warm by the fire,
Peter watches from afar as his Lord goes on trial.

Earlier that evening, as they shared their last meal,
Jesus foretold what the rooster would reveal.

Peter, confident and brave, declares he’ll never flee.
“Through prison and through death, I’ll follow faithfully!”

But Jesus knows what Peter has yet to comprehend,
The strength he trusts within himself will falter in the end.

And later in the garden, as Jesus urges him to pray,
Peter struggles with the task of simply staying awake.

When the crowd arrives to seize Him, Peter draws his sword.
He cuts off a servant’s ear, defending his Lord.

“Enough!” commands the Lord, His voice both firm and clear,
Then reaches out to heal the servant’s wounded ear.

They lead Jesus away, and Peter follows far behind,
His courage slowly fading, uncertainty upon his mind.

Back beside the courtyard fire, Peter waits throughout the night,
A servant girl looks closely, and his courage takes to flight.

Once, then twice, then thrice he speaks, denying who he knows,
And just as Jesus had foretold, the morning rooster crows.

And in that moment Jesus turns, eyes locked upon His friend,
Peter stands there frozen, as his world comes to an end.

His promises, the warning, the rooster’s piercing cry,
And Peter knows he’s failed the One for whom he swore he’d die.

Peter turns away, the shame too heavy to bear,
He goes outside, weeps bitterly, overcome with despair.

I wonder what Peter saw when he looked in his Savior’s eyes?
Was it sorrow? Disappointment? The pain of being denied?

Or perhaps a love so unfathomable, it took him by surprise.

For Jesus knew this would occur, yet it did not change His course.
His love remained unwavering as He journeyed toward the cross.

And the same can be said of me when I’ve made my life a mess,
He is faithful through my unfaithfulness; He loves me nonetheless.