Name the man…name the scene. Experience the darkness…the despair.
This was, indeed, Peter’s “dark[est] night of the soul.” (Luke 22:62).
Perhaps Peter recalled his first encounter with the Lord. In his boat on Lake Galilee, following the miraculous catch of fish. Meditate on his words of shame and unworthiness — “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8b).
Yet, Peter was chosen as a disciple…so unqualified. His temperament needed an “extreme make-over.” So many times his words pointed to his limited maturity.
The “dark night” was more than the opening scene where he denied his Lord…more than the physical reality. Deep and dark were the troubling emotions Peter wrestled with. His three years of training were pock-marked by episodes of “dark night[s] of the soul.”
Yet grace prevailed. Peter would still “catch men” (10b)…he would still “feed lambs…and sheep” (John 21:15-17). Jesus never gave up on Peter!
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”
Peter is a discipleship “poster child ...
