(1) Peter needed special prayer because of the pre-eminent position that he occupied. Those who play the hero on great occasions will at other times act very unworthily. Many men conceal and belie their convictions at the dinner-table, who would boldly proclaim their sentiments from the pulpit or the platform. Standing in the place where Christ's servants are expected to speak the truth, they draw their swords bravely in defence of their Lord ; but mixing in society on equal terms, they too often
* H. C, Mabie, Method in Soul- Winning, 20.
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say in effect, " I know not the man." Peter's offence, therefore, if grave, is certainly not uncommon. It is committed virtually, if not formally, by multitudes who are utterly incapable of public deliberate treason against truth and God. The erring disciple was much more singular in his repentance than in his sin. Of all who in mere acts of weakness virtually deny Christ, how few, like him, go out and weep bitterly !
(2) There was something in the temperament of Peter that called for special intercession. Of all the disciples who were to be sifted, or brought under temptation, it was to Peter alone that Christ's heart went out in urgent entreaty. But why for Peter rather than for the others ? Why should the merciful feelings of His heart be concentrated on him ? Was it because he was nearer and dearer, and more amiable than the others ; more equable in disposition, more exemplary and mild ? No, for he was the reverse of this. Peter's eminence among the disciples at this time was not of this kind. He was hot-headed, rash, and egotistical, unstable and inconsistent. At one moment he was brave as a lion, heroic in all his impulses, and tense in all his purposes ; the next he was timid, vacillating, and cowardly. You see him at one moment sword in hand, foremost to defend his Master ; the next he stands by the fire in the court-yard stamping and swearing, denying with oaths that he knew any such man as Jesus. But why should Christ pray for such a man ? one is naturally led to inquire. Why did His love go out so warmly and tenderly towards one capable of so much treachery and falsehood, one so selfish and unreliable ? Why select him from the other disciples, and lavish upon him so much tender solicitude and prayer?
(3) Judas needed special intercession as well as Peter, but he put himself beyond the reach of grace. Judas sins and falls to his utter ruin : Peter falls and is restored. What accounts for this difference? Is it entirely because Christ prayed lor the one disciple and never prayed for the other? None of us, surely, would say that it is. We are compelled to look at the matter in the light of their character. Judas is cool, crafty, calculating, selfish ; Peter at heart loves that which is holy and just and true, and hates that which is wrong and vile. He may fall into sin by his rashness, but he hates it when once he sees it ; and he knows how to repent and seek forgiveness and restoration. His heart is
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tender and true. His tears of penitence are genuine. He is such an one as may be prayed for. There is material in him to work upon. The life of the soul is not extinct. The Divine breath will fan it into a flame again.
He weeps, and bitter are his tears,
As bitter as his words were base, As urgent as the sudden fears
Which even love refused to face.
0, love so false and yet so true,
0, love so eager yet so weak. In these sad waters born anew
Thy tongue shall yet in triumph speak.
Thou livest, and the boaster dies,
Dies with the night that wrought his shame*
Thou livest, and these tears baptize — Simon, now Peter is thy name.
A rock, upon Himself the Eock
Christ places thee this awful day ; Him waves assault with direful shock.
And cover thee with maddening spray
But safe art thou, for strong is He :
Eternal Love all love will keep : The sweet shall as the bitter be;
Thou shalt rejoice as thou dost weep.*
3. Our Lord did not ask for Peter that he might be exempted from temptation, but simply that his faith should not fail. Faith meant everything to Peter. It was the foundation on which all that was good and noble in his character was built up. And the trial went to strengthen his faith. Peter's vanity was sifted out of him, his self-confidence was sifted out of him, his rash pre- sumption was sifted out of him, his impulsive readiness to blurt out the first thought that came into his head was sifted out of him, and so his unreliableness and changeableness were largely sifted out of him, and he became what Christ said he had in him the makings of being — " Cephas " — " a rock," or, as the Apostle Paul, who was never unwilling to praise the others, said, a man 1 T. T. Lynch, The Rivulet, 132.
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" who looked like a pillar." He " strengthened his brethren," and to many generations the story of the Apostle who denied the Lord he loved has ministered comfort.