Mark 14:27-31  “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: 

         “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, 
         and the sheep will be scattered.’ 

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 
Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 
But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. 

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Have you ever broken a well-intentioned vow? 

Have you ever made a promise you could not keep?

There are times in our lives when we want to appear bigger, better, and more powerful than we are. We say more than we can back up. Eventually, someone calls us to account and has us put up or shut up. Humiliation follows. 

Isn’t this a wonderful thought to begin the day?

Horrific events were about to unfold. Whatever Peter and his companions thought they could control was way out of their hands. Evil was about to gain its ultimate victory. No amount of tough talk, no amount of bravado would stop, slow, or mitigate the torture and death to come.

Peter took his own measure and believed he had the right stuff to face anything. His pronouncement emboldened the other disciples to share his vow. He was wrong. So were the others. Things happened just the way Jesus said they would. 

The shepherd was struck. The sheep scattered. Jesus died. They hid. 

Something bigger was in the works than bold words and dire truth. Jesus said in verse 28, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” There the Shepherd regathered his lambs. There the Shepherd assigned the World’s Second-Best Fisherman a new line of work. (See John 21:15-19.) The famous last words of this conversation were the same as his famous first words to Peter: “Follow me!” (John 21:19; Mark 1:15). 

Where did Jesus lead Peter? He led him to death and to resurrection and to vocation and calling. His own famous last words contained no powerful vows, no promises he could not keep. Instead, he said, “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him,” (2 Peter 3:14). Then he placed an end to his last sentence: 

“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen,” (2 Peter 3:17, 18).

Today we live in a world of bold talk and pitiless action. How then should we who belong to Jesus live? 

1. Live blamelessly.
2. Make peace with God. 
3. Stand guard against careless words and actions.
4. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
5. Worship him endlessly.

Peter learned his lessons well. He excelled in his new vocation. This should give us hope for ourselves in light of our own past failures and present challenges. 

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I will make fewer bold pronouncements and live my vocation and calling more intentionally.

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Our Father, you engineered a complete personal turnaround for Peter. Refocus our lives as well. Recalibrate us for maximum expression of your grace, mercy, and peace. Grow us in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. May our lives declare your goodness. Amen.