The disciples had just argued as to which of them should be considered the greatest. Then Jesus spoke in Luke, chapter 22:
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
And it wasn’t long before Peter had fulfilled those words:
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”
But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”
Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Peter spent 3 ½ years with Jesus and observed countless miracles and even was include on the Mount of Transfiguration. However, observation of the Gospel did not change Peter.
After the resurrection, it is recorded by The Holy Spirit in Mark chapter 16:
6 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you’re here looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here—he has risen victoriously! Look! See the place where they laid him. 7 Run and tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is risen. He has gone ahead of you into Galilee and you will see him there, just like he told you.”
Peter was no longer included as one of the disciples for Jesus needed to restore him. Did Peter lose his calling and opportunity to be included as one of the original twelve disciples? No, Peter experienced restoration when Jesus ministered to him in John chapter 21:
15 After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me more than these?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
16 Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of John, do you have great affection for me?”
Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with Love for you!”
Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!”
Peter had denied Christ three times but was restored after these three declarations.
How long did it take Peter to go from denial of Christ to full empowerment by The Holy Spirit?
In Acts chapter 2, Peter spoke by the empowerment of The Holy Spirit:
37 When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus. Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
40 Peter preached to them and warned them with these words: “Be rescued from the wayward and perverse culture of this world!”
41 Those who believed the word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church.
In just 50 days, Peter went from denial to publicly preaching the Gospel and adding 3,000 souls to the church in one day. What prepared and changed Peter resulting in his empowerment? The answer is found in Acts chapter 1:
1 To Theophilus, the lover of God.
I write to you again, my dear friend, to give you further details about the life of our Lord Jesus and all the things that He did and taught.
2 Just before He ascended into heaven, He left instructions for the apostles he had chosen by the Holy Spirit. 3 After the sufferings of his cross, Jesus appeared alive many times to these same apostles over a forty-day period. Jesus proved to them with many convincing signs that He had been resurrected.
During these encounters, He taught them the truths of GOD’S Kingdom realm 4 and shared meals with them.
Jesus instructed them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift THE FATHER has promised. 5 For John baptized you in water, but in a few days from now you will be baptized in The Holy Spirit!”
6 Every time they were gathered together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is it the time now for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He answered, “The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority. 8 But I promise you this—The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be My messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!”
The disciples repeatedly asked Jesus about timing and Jesus firmly responded that He wasn’t to answer that question. Spreading the Gospel is the priority and their mandate was to act, not sit around waiting for some watch date they kept seeking.
In just fifty days after Jesus teaching Peter about FATHER’S Kingdom, he was empowered by The Holy Spirit to be fruitful for the Kingdom’s sake. Forty days of pure instruction by Jesus and the baptism of The Holy Spirit produced the results. Let this simple Truth provide each of us encouragement as we expect to walk in full maturity as Sons and Daughters!