He Restores Us
Good morning Immanuel. Jesus would not have us walk through life haunted by the scent of our failures.
“The servant girl at the door said to Peter, ‘You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not’” (John 18:17).
It was night when the apostle Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter was in the High Priest’s courtyard. Jesus was being interrogated just yards away. And we’re told in John 18:18 that Peter was warming himself by a charcoal fire.
We all know that a charcoal fire has a distinct smell. And because scent is tied strongly to memory, it’s reasonable to think that for Peter, the smell of a charcoal fire might have triggered painful memories in later years—were it not for the grace of Jesus.
We can add that caveat with confidence because the only other place in the New Testament where a charcoal fire is mentioned is three chapters later in John 21:9, and the resurrected Jesus himself lit that fire. Only this time, it was not night. It was morning. And Peter was not denying Jesus. He was breakfasting with Jesus, receiving healing precisely where he most needed it, around a charcoal fire.
Our Lord Jesus would not have us walk through life haunted by the scent of our failures.
Thank you, T.J.. I failed a friend recently and have been carrying around the scent of that failure. I needed this word.
Oh my goodness. What a fantastic biblical insight! Thank you, TJ. I am so encouraged.