"When you sin" and "When you return" - Luke 21-22

Only 12 men had the privilege of spending intimate time with the Lord. These 12, one of them a prophetic traitor, would spend hours talking, listening, observing and interacting with our Savior. Jesus would minister to them, with them and through them. They had the closest relationship anyone could ever have with the Lord on this side of Heaven. Yet, they all ran when Christ was arrested. They all would hide in shame, fear and/or regret. They expected a king who would crush the foes (Romans) and instead Jesus of Nazareth turned out to be just another martyr for the lost cause ... or so they thought. Peter, the verbal spoke-person for most of their interaction, had verbally committed to never leaving or denying him ... even willing to die for him (22:33). Yet, Satan had asked and, apparently, received permission to work on Peter (22:31-32). Jesus is so accurate in His prophesy that He tells Peter that "when" he turns back (making the assumption he will turn away) he should be ready to strengthen his brothers (implying they also would turn away). Jesus is intimate with them but doesn't withhold the bear truth from them. Peter is going to turn away. But, "when he turns back" he has work to do. What a great lesson for those of us who only know the Savior through the eyes of faith. What a great throughout for those of us who only walk with Jesus and are intimate with him through the ministry of the Spirit. We often hear people say that if they were there they would not have turned away. Peter gives us the example that we all would. Yet, Jesus has work for us after we do. Satan would want us to turn away and never come back. Jesus is waiting only for our return. He then has work for us. We can still be used by God after we make a step toward sin. Even after denying Him three times Peter was used by God. In John 21 we see Peter ready to return to fishing and the others followed. Jesus was willing to pursue him in that chapter to get him back out of the boat and moving by faith toward ministry. Peter, the denier, becomes the chief spokesmen for the early church in the beginning chapters of Acts. Peter the one who would not side with Jesus would eventually take His side in fight after fight with religious and political leaders. When we sin, we can and should return.