Hope through lent week 3 Hope for change Have you ever faced a situation you thought you could handle but then realised you couldn’t? Peter Betrays Jesus Peter was described in the bible as 'The Rock'! Not Dwayne Johnson aka 'The Rock', but someone who was solid and would never waiver from his commitment to Jesus. Peter was the disciple Jesus planned to use to build his church (Matthew 16:18). Peter, the disciple who recognised that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 16:15-17). Peter, who followed Jesus through thick and thin, who cut off a man’s ear to defend Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Peter, who walked on water (Matthew 14:28-29) Even this disciple stumbled…fell hard…gave up HOPE…lost faith. Read Luke 22:54-62 On the night that Jesus was betrayed, this Peter thought surely he would stand strong and remain faithful even if none of the other disciples did. Questions: What made this disciple think that he could do it even if no one else could? And if even Peter could fall when things got rough, what HOPE do the rest of us have? Yes, there’s a warning for us in Peter’s story, but there’s also tremendous HOPE! "You were with Jesus. You’re one of his followers, aren’t you?” Peter denied he even knew Jesus – in front of everyone; the other disciple that was with him, the priests, the Roman guards, the household servants and Jesus. They were all in the courtyard together. Jesus was right there. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for Peter to feel Jesus’ eyes on him as he disowned him. Question: Can you remember a time when you got it totally wrong and hurt someone you cared about? “‘You must be one of his disciples.’ Again, Peter denied it. ‘No, I’m not.’” “ ‘Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?’ But Peter didn’t give it up. Peter swore that he didn’t know Jesus at all.” AND THE ROOSTER CROWED At that very moment, Jesus turned, and looked RIGHT AT PETER. There was no hiding what he had done. There was no taking it back. Peter, who thought he was the most loyal disciple, Peter, who thought he was beyond falling away. Peter, who loved Jesus, had betrayed him in the worst way to his face. Not even Peter was immune to this kind of failure, none of us are. Peter was devastated. He ran away weeping bitterly. Thank goodness Peter’s story doesn’t end there and neither will ours. You can find the amazing story of Jesus restoring Peter in John 21, and he did actually become the Rock that Jesus built his church on! The HOPE we find in Peter’s story is the HOPE of mercy, forgiveness, and second chances. Jesus didn’t give up on Peter simply because he failed the test. The same mercy Jesus showed Peter is available to us. Just as Jesus forgave Peter, he will forgive us when we fall, and Jesus will meet with us one-on-one, just as intimately and personally as he met with Peter. HOPE can be hard to find, but it is always there. Someone once said to me 'if you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always had' Is there something that needs to change about the way you are living now? HOPE can be hard to find, but it is always there. As we enter into the third week in Lent I want to give you some challenges for the week to help us find HOPE and share HOPE with others. Actions: Reflect on the last year. Is there someone you let down, upset or had a disagreement with? Is it resolved? If not pray and ask God what you could do today to bring freedom in that situation. Forgive yourself. We all hold onto things in our lives: the low points, the things we have done wrong. Write them down, put them in a safe bucket or container, ask God to take away the feelings of guilt and pain, and burn them as an offering to God. Write down a list of all of the things you do well. We easily remember the things we have done wrong. But, like Peter, even though we mess up, the promises over our lives are still real. Remembering and holding on to the positive parts of your life will transform how you perform today. Don’t let the failings and hurts of your past inform who you are today, because that is not who you are. You are still loved by God. You still have tremendous purpose and value to God even in the lowest point of your life! Let those truths take you into a more hopeful future. “I used to say, ‘ I sure hope things will change’. Then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change.” Jim Rohn