Overcoming the defeats of disobedience.

Today’s reading: Luke 22 NASB
SCRIPTURE 
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” - Luke 22:61-62 NASB

OBSERVATION
Background: It was at the Passover Celebration, Peter boldly committed to live and die for Jesus.  Why at the Passover?  What is a Passover Celebration?

Called Hag HaMatzot (festival of Matza) in the Torah, the commandment to keep Passover is recorded in the Book of Leviticus: “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month between the two evenings is the lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the lord; seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. And ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the lord seven days; in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work.” (Leviticus 23:5)
The biblical regulations for the observance of the festival require that all leavening be disposed of before the beginning of the 15th of Nisan. An unblemished lamb or goat is to be set apart on Nisan 10, and slaughtered on Nisan 14 "between the two evenings", a phrase which is, however, not defined. It is then to be eaten "that night", Nisan 15, roasted, without the removal of its internal organs with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Nothing of the sacrifice on which the sun rises may be eaten, but must be burned. The sacrifices may only be performed in a specific place prescribed by God (for Judaism, Jerusalem, and for Samaritans, Mount Gerizim). Regulations pertaining to the original Passover also include how the meal is to be eaten: "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the lord's passover" (Exodus 12:11).
Some of these details can be corroborated, and to some extent amplified, in extrabiblical sources. The removal (or "sealing up") of the leaven is referred to in the Elephantine papyri, an Aramaic papyrus from 5th century BCE Elephantine in Egypt. The slaughter of the lambs on the 14th is mentioned in The Book of Jubilees, a Jewish work of the Ptolemaic period, and by the Herodian-era writers Josephus and Philo. These sources also indicate that "between the two evenings" was taken to mean the afternoon. Jubilees states the sacrifice was eaten that night, and together with Josephus states that nothing of the sacrifice was allowed to remain until morning. Philo states that the banquet included hymns and prayers.
The Biblical commandments concerning the Passover (and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) stress the importance of remembering: “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these statutes." (Deuteronomy 16:12) Exodus 12:14 commands, in reference to God's sparing of the firstborn from the Tenth Plague: “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the lord; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” Exodus 13:3 repeats the command to remember: “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength the hand of the LORD brought you out from this place.”
Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, which typically falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar. In accordance with the Hebrew Bible, Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew calendar's festival year.[6] Passover is a spring festival, so the 14th day of Nisan begins on the night of a full moon after the vernal equinox. To ensure that Passover did not start before spring, the tradition in ancient Israel held that the first day of Nisan would not start until the barley was ripe, being the test for the onset of spring. If the barley was not ripe, or various other phenomena indicated that spring was not yet imminent, an intercalary month (Adar II) would be added. In Israel, Passover is the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days observed as legal holidays and as holy days involving abstention from work, special prayer services, and holiday meals; the intervening days are known as Chol HaMoed ("Weekdays of the Festival"). Diaspora Jews historically observed the festival for eight days, and most still do. Reform and Reconstructionist Jews and Israeli Jews, wherever they are, usually observe the holiday over seven days. The reason for this extra day is due to enactment of the Sages. It is thought by many scholars that Jews outside of Israel could not be certain if their local calendars fully conformed to practice of the Temple at Jerusalem, so they added an extra day. But as this practice only attaches to certain (major) holy days, others posit the extra day may have been added to accommodate people who had to travel long distances to participate in communal worship and ritual practices; or the practice may have evolved as a compromise between conflicting interpretations of Jewish Law regarding the calendar; or it may have evolved as a safety measure in areas where Jews were commonly in danger, so that their enemies would not be certain on which day to attack.

Bottom line: Passover (Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: [pesaħ] ( listen), Modern Hebrew: /ˈpesaχ/ Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish: Peysekh, Paysakh, Paysokh) is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Okay.  Why did Peter make such a bold statement?  Honestly, that’s one for Peter to answer.  My option - because Peters a man. As he makes a public declaration committing to live and die for Jesus, Peters quickly quieted by Jesus saying that Peter would deny Him.

I wonder what Peter’s body language conveyed to Jesus and the other onlookers. I can see him with sword drawn, on top of the table boldly declaring his willingness to die for Jesus!  Then slowly stepping down as Jesus states the opposite.  I wonder what Jesus’ eyes looked like (compassionate or fierce) as He corrected Peter’s courageous confession?  In the midst of their encounter and during the meeting of their eyes - after Peter denies Jesus (3) three times, just as He said Peter would. Peter must’ve felt sick inwardly - realizing that he did not live up to his bold, courageous declaration! Bitter weeping, uncontrollable feeling of being condemned. Peter’s denial of Jesus would be a mentoring lesson used by God, to develop his heart into one of the fiercest disciples who ever lived!

APPLICATION
There’s hope for me. There are times I’ve walked in Peter footsteps bolding declaring my commitment to Christ and then theirs moments where I seem to deny Jesus. How? By not responding in boldness to His promptings to witness to people - to strangers - even to non Christian friends. I say that I would die for Christ - but would I? What does death hold? I’m I more contend here and now than my desire to be with God in heaven?  YES!

I want to live differently by growing in boldness and confidence in Jesus. Even overcoming the defeats of disobedience's: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. How do I overcome them?
Being honest with myself.
Praying for boldness, backing it with personal action.
Baby steps of achievable action.

Truth: My faith is lived out & reviled in the midst of my daily reality.

PRAYER
I ask that you would help me to listen and obey that I might grow in my knowledge and love of you. Help me continue to to step out in faith as I hold fast to You in the midst of reality. - Trevor