3x Grace!

Jesus says to Peter, before the rooster crows, you will deny me 3x.  Peter is like, what?  No!  Won't happen.  Peter denies Jesus 3x and the rooster crows...Peter is crushed.  3x

After the resurrection of Jesus, He appears to Peter and simply asks Peter, do you love me?  3x  And Peter responds with an answer 3x.  To me, it is like Jesus saying to Peter, alright, let's move on and carry out the vision that i laid out for you before I was crucified on the Cross.  All is well.  3x

Now, in Acts 10 Peter is on the roof praying and gets hungry.  Peter has a vision of some good meat and Jesus says get up, kill it and eat it.  Peter is like, wait a minute...i can't, it is against the Law.  I can't help but see Jesus smiling thinking, man, can't pull anything by this guy, but says to Peter, "do not call anything impure that God has made clean."  Listen, Jesus gets it.  Peter is obeying the Law...really is a beautiful moment.  But Jesus has fulfilled the Law and wants to provide for Peter's need at this moment, plus, there is something greater happening here for you and I!!!   But Peter is stuck, so do you know what Jesus does?  He has a conversation with Peter about this, how many times?  Look at v.16 - 3x.  Haha.  I had never caught that before and at first glance you might think ouch, boy Jesus has a way of stinging Peter when he is stubborn, but friends, I don't think that at all.  All I see is GRACE.  Peter has taught that you can't do this, but today is a new day and there is a new way because of Jesus and because Peter is stuck, the most impactful way for Peter to embrace Jesus as truth is for Jesus to speak to Peter about this...3x.  As soon as Jesus brings it up 3x, i see Peter smiling thinking I hope that there are some mashed potatoes involved with this ham that I am about to eat up.  3x Grace...which by the way, never runs out!!!

And because of that 3x Grace, the Gospel begins to be shared with the Gentiles and today, I am living under the beauty of 3x Grace.  Friends, today is a new day...Jesus has made a new way.  Enjoy Him!

P.S. i wonder if when Peter was being stubborn in his faith, if Jesus didn't just speak to him about it 3x.  That's Grace!