The Contradiction Man

Sin makes people into walking contradictions.  You know people who are kind to you, but you see them tearing others up.  People are capable of feeling both love and hate for the same thing, or the same person.  We can be proud by being self-effacing.  We can lie by omitting something from the truth.  We are sinful, and thus we are inconsistent.
 
One of the most poignant examples of man's inconsistency was named Peter.  He was a follower of Christ, who loved his Savior deeply.  He was also completely flawed from the inside out.  John 18 provides a moving narrative of Peter's denial of Christ.  It showed us how the most vocal defender of Jesus became a timid liar in the face of opposition.

As John MacArthur notes in his message on this passage, "Jesus' Trial, Peter's Denial," the arrangement of John 18 is truly creative.  Verses 12-27 involve both the beginning of Jesus' several trials, and Peter's denial of His Savior.  But instead of laying the two stories side by side in self contained sections, God's word has permanently interwoven them to give anyone who reads it a pair of contrasting narratives.  The contrast is fourfold, according to MacArthur.  It serves to: a.) emphasize the glory of Christ and the sinfulness of man; b.) show why Christ's atoning death was necessary by showing sinfulness in the both Jesus' unregenerate persecutors and in a true believer; c.) to contrast faithfulness with faithlessness; and d.) to exalt Jesus Christ by comparison of Him to a shameful sinner.

The irony of the story is that it doesn't just contrast Jesus with Peter; it contrasts Peter with himself.  This man had earlier said "Why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you (Jn. 13:37)!"  But Jesus knew Peter far better than He knew Himself.  "Will you lay down your life for me?" He asked.  "Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times (Jn. 13:38)."

And in John 18, the denial happens.  What a curious combination of self-confidence and crippling fear!  Peter followed Jesus as far as the outer ring of the courtyard, obviously intending to do something to stand up for His Master.  Yet He wasn't even brave enough to tell a servant girl that He knew who Jesus was.

Do you see yourself in this?  Do you have great desire to tell others about Jesus--but not the strength to compromise your social standing for His Name?  Don't be discouraged.  This passage contrasts a man like us with Jesus for the precise reason that we can see the difference.  We are faithless; He is faithful.  We are inconsistent; He never changes.

The God who died for you knew your weakness before He even came to earth.  He knew all of your inconsistencies--better than you or anyone else ever could.  And He loves, and forgives, time after time.  Whether you have denied Christ by silence or with swearing, whether you've denied Him 3 times or 300 times, He is faithful to forgive.  Confess your faithlessness, and take heart.  Just like with Peter, Jesus still has a plan for you.  He will make you bolder--just wait and see.

2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful--for He cannot deny Himself.

"Jesus' Trial, Peter's Denial" http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg1571.htm