There seems to be a small patch of black ice on the left side of this picture and I can tell you from experience that stuff is very dangerous. On a winter day about ten years ago I was going out to my car to go to the store and I didn't see a patch of ice and wham, I went flying. When I came down I twisted my back and the pain stayed for many months no matter what I did. Sin is a lot like that patch of ice; you don't watch where you are going and then wham! Jesus warned his disciples that after his betrayal they would desert him, but do you think Peter listened; not a chance! Read these two passages from the Gospel of Matthew and see the outcome:
Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mat 26:33 Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.
Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
Mat 26:33 Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same.
Mat 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."
Mat 26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."
Mat 26:71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
Mat 26:72 And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."
Mat 26:73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you."
Mat 26:74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.
Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
English Standard Version
I have always liked Peter because he seems to think more with his heart than his head, but the second passage certainly doesn't paint a glowing picture of him does it? He fell away just like Jesus said he would and Peter wept bitterly over it. Sin hurts, so watch out! Pay attention to your life and don't slip up or you may fall into sin just like Peter did. And don't boast that it won't happen to you because it probably will. The good news is that Jesus will help you no matter how bad you mess up and that is really something to crow about!
