No airbrushing in the gospels

In this week's school assembly, we have moved on in the life of Peter. Now we are in Jesus' final few days before his death and resurrection.

Peter has made all kinds of claims about standing by Jesus, about not letting him down, about his loyalty, no matter what the cost. And yet within a few hours of making those claims, Peter has denied knowing Jesus three times - just as Jesus said he would.

Peter is devastated by what he has done.

One of the reasons I'm so grateful that the gospel authors didn't try and airbrush out the disciples' failings is because I often see myself and my failings in them. I don't know about you, but I've certainly made claims and promises to God which have then fallen through for one reason or another. Things I would do every day. Things I'd never do again. The list goes on.

Yet Jesus knew that Peter would deny him before he did it. He knew that Peter would deny him before he called him and invested three years of his life into him. Jesus loved Peter before his denial and afterwards too - but that's getting into next week's assembly.

We often find it more difficult to forgive ourselves than to forgive others. And sometimes when we let God down we find it even more difficult. Yet his love and his forgiveness is bigger than anything we can do.