Peter: When the Rock Was Crushed to Dust

The Absolute Goodness of God for Those Left Behind

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” — Luke 22:61-62

To Those Who Were Left Behind: There Is Still Hope

If you’re reaading this and the Rapture has already happened…

If millions of people vanished and you were LEFT…

If you realize NOW that you were a foolish virgin with no oil in your lamp…

If you’re one of the five who heard “I know you not” when the door was shut…

If you mocked the watchmen and went back to Babylon…

If you were lukewarm, compromising, playing games with your faith…

There is still HOPE.

And his name is PETER.

Peter—the one Jesus called “the little rock”—was crushed to dust so that you would know that God’s absolute GOODNESS extends even to those who denied Him, betrayed Him, and fell away at the critical moment.

This is your story. And there is still time.

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Satan’s Demand: To Sift Peter as Wheat

Luke 22:31-32 - “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

“Satan hath DESIRED to have you.”

Satan didn’t just want to tempt Peter. He wanted to DESTROY Peter.

“To sift you as WHEAT.”

Sifting wheat is a violent process. You take the wheat and throw it against a hard surface repeatedly, crushing it, breaking it, separating the grain from the chaff.

Satan wanted to CRUSH Peter. To break him completely. To destroy his faith.

And Jesus ALLOWED IT.

Not because Jesus didn’t love Peter. BECAUSE Jesus loved Peter.

Why Jesus Allowed the Crushing

Because Peter’s SELF—his bold, confident, self-assured flesh—had to be destroyed.

Peter thought he was strong. Peter thought he was faithful. Peter thought he was the most devoted disciple.

Luke 22:33 - “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”

“I am READY.”

Bold declaration. Absolute confidence. Total self-assurance.

But it was SELF speaking. Not faith. SELF.

And SELF always fails. SELF always denies. SELF always betrays.

So Jesus allowed Satan to sift Peter—to crush the SELF—so that when Peter was rebuilt, it would be by GRACE, not by the flesh.

Jesus’ Prayer: That His Faith Fail Not

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”

Jesus didn’t pray that Peter wouldn’t be sifted. Jesus didn’t pray that Peter wouldn’t fall. Jesus didn’t pray that Peter wouldn’t deny Him.

Jesus prayed that Peter’s FAITH would not fail.

Not Peter’s confidence. Not Peter’s boldness. Not Peter’s self-assurance.

His FAITH.

The faith that Jesus Himself had given Peter. The faith that was a gift of grace, not a product of Peter’s strength.

That faith would endure—even through the crushing.

The Commission: Strengthen Your Brothers

“And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

“WHEN thou art converted.”

Not “if.” WHEN.

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. Jesus knew Peter would fall. Jesus knew Peter would be crushed.

But Jesus also knew Peter would be RESTORED.

And then—AFTER the crushing, AFTER the conversion, AFTER the restoration—Peter would strengthen his brothers.

This is the pattern for those left behind.

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The Boldness of SELF: Peter’s Three Declarations

Before the fall, Peter made three bold declarations that revealed how much SELF was driving him:

Declaration 1: I Will Never Fall Away

Matthew 26:33 - “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”

“Though ALL MEN shall be offended… I WILL NEVER.”

Peter set himself apart from the other disciples. “I’m better than them. I’m stronger. I won’t fall.”

Pure SELF. Pure pride. Pure flesh.

Declaration 2: I Will Die With You

Matthew 26:35 - “Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

“Though I should DIE with thee, yet will I NOT DENY thee.”

Bold words. Noble words. Sincere words.

But words spoken from SELF, not from faith.

Declaration 3: I Am Ready for Prison and Death

Luke 22:33 - “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”

“I am READY.”

But he wasn’t ready. Because SELF is never ready. SELF always overestimates its strength and underestimates its weakness.

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Jesus’ Warning: You Will Deny Me Three Times

Luke 22:34 - “And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

“Thou shalt THRICE DENY that thou knowest me.”

Not “you might deny me.” Not “if you’re not careful, you could deny me.”

“Thou SHALT.”

Jesus knew. Jesus saw it coming. Jesus prophesied it.

And Peter didn’t believe it.

Because SELF never believes it will fail.

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The Fall: Three Denials

After Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s house, Peter followed at a distance and sat by the fire with the servants and officers.

And then came the test.

Denial 1: I Don’t Know Him

Luke 22:56-57 - “But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.”

“I know him NOT.”

A servant girl. Not a soldier. Not a priest. Not a threat.

A servant girl.

And Peter—the bold, courageous, ready-for-prison-and-death Peter—denied Jesus.

Denial 2: I Am Not One of Them

Luke 22:58 - “And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.”

“I am NOT.”

Second denial. Easier than the first. The hardening begins.

Denial 3: I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About

Luke 22:59-60 - “And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

“I know NOT what thou sayest.”

Third denial. Complete rejection. Total betrayal.

And immediately the rooster crowed.

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The Look: When Jesus Turned and Looked at Peter

Luke 22:61 - “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.”

In the middle of His own trial—being falsely accused, mocked, beaten—Jesus turned and looked at Peter.

Not with anger. Not with condemnation. Not with “I told you so.”

With LOVE.

With absolute GOODNESS.

With the look that said: “I know what you just did. I know you denied me. I know you failed. And I still love you. I’m still praying for you. Your faith will not fail. You will be restored.”

That LOOK broke Peter.

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The Crushing: Peter Wept Bitterly

Luke 22:61-62 - “And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

“Peter remembered.”

All the bold declarations flooded back:

- “I will NEVER fall away!”
- “I will DIE with you!”
- “I am READY!”

And now—the crushing reality:

He HAD fallen away. He WOULDN’T die with Jesus. He WASN’T ready.

SELF had failed. Completely. Utterly. Totally.

“And Peter went out, and wept BITTERLY.”

Not just tears of regret. Bitter weeping. The kind of weeping that comes from the deepest place of brokenness, shame, and utter devastation.

The Rock was being crushed to dust.

Matthew 21:44 - “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

Peter fell on the stone (Jesus, the Rock). And he was BROKEN.

But more than that—the Stone fell on Peter. And Peter was ground to POWDER.

To DUST.

Every bit of SELF—every ounce of confidence in his own strength, every shred of pride in his own faithfulness—was crushed to dust.

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Why God Allowed This: The Depth of the Weakness of the Flesh

Romans 7:18 - “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

“In my FLESH, dwelleth NO GOOD THING.”

Peter had to learn this the hard way.

He thought his flesh was strong. He thought his will was unbreakable. He thought his love for Jesus was sufficient.

But the flesh is WEAK. The flesh ALWAYS fails. The flesh produces NOTHING but death.

Jesus Himself said it:

Matthew 26:41 - “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

“The FLESH is WEAK.”

Not “the flesh might be weak.” Not “the flesh can be weak.”

The flesh IS weak. Always. Everywhere. In everyone.

Peter’s crushing was designed to teach him—and US—that the flesh cannot be trusted, cannot be relied upon, cannot produce anything of eternal value.

Only GRACE. Only the SPIRIT. Only CHRIST in us.

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The Absolute Goodness of God: Peter Was Restored

After the resurrection, Jesus didn’t abandon Peter. Jesus didn’t reject Peter. Jesus didn’t say “You denied me three times, so you’re out.”

Jesus RESTORED Peter.

The Breakfast by the Sea

John 21:15-17 - “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Three denials. Three restorations.

Three times Peter said “I don’t know Him.” Three times Jesus asked “Do you love me?”

Three times Peter betrayed. Three times Jesus commissioned.

This wasn’t punishment. This was RESTORATION.

Jesus was rebuilding Peter—not on the foundation of Peter’s strength, but on the foundation of GRACE.

The Transformation: From SELF to Grace

Notice the difference in Peter’s responses:

Before the fall: “Though all men fall away, I NEVER will! I am READY for prison and death!”

After the crushing: “Lord, thou knowest ALL THINGS; thou knowest that I love thee.”

Before: Bold declarations of SELF.

After: Humble dependence on Christ’s knowledge, not his own strength.

The SELF had been crushed. GRACE had taken its place.

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Peter Strengthened His Brothers: The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:14-41 - Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood up and preached the first gospel sermon. 3,000 people were saved in one day.

This is the Peter who was crushed, broken, ground to powder, and RESTORED by grace.

Not Peter the bold, self-assured fisherman.

Peter the grace-dependent, Spirit-filled, Christ-exalting servant.

Acts 2:37-38 - “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

“What shall we DO?”

“REPENT.”

Peter—who had denied Jesus three times—now boldly proclaims: REPENT.

Because Peter knew what it meant to fall. Peter knew what it meant to fail. Peter knew what it meant to be crushed.

And Peter knew what it meant to be RESTORED by the absolute GOODNESS of God.

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The Message for Those Left Behind

If you’re reading this after the Rapture…

If you were left behind because you were lukewarm, compromising, mocking, self-assured…

If you thought you were saved but had no oil in your lamp…

If you denied Jesus by your lifestyle, your choices, your priorities…

You are PETER.

And there is HOPE.

You Must Be Crushed

Your SELF must be destroyed. Your confidence in your own strength must be shattered. Your pride must be ground to powder.

This is not punishment. This is PREPARATION for restoration.

2 Corinthians 7:10 - “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

“Godly sorrow worketh REPENTANCE to SALVATION.”

You must weep bitterly like Peter. You must feel the full weight of your denial, your betrayal, your failure.

Not so you can wallow in shame, but so you can be RESTORED by grace.

Jesus Is Still Praying for You

Hebrews 7:25 - “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

“He EVER LIVETH to make INTERCESSION.”

Jesus is STILL praying. Even after the Rapture. Even after you were left behind. Even after you denied Him.

He’s praying that your faith will not fail.

He’s praying that you will be converted.

He’s praying that you will strengthen your brothers.

You Will Face the Tribulation

Revelation 7:14 - “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

“These are they which came out of GREAT TRIBULATION.”

You will suffer. You will face persecution. You will likely die as a martyr.

But you CAN be saved.

Revelation 13:10 - “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

“Here is the PATIENCE and the FAITH of the saints.”

The tribulation saints—those left behind—will be saved BY FAITH, just like Peter.

Not by their strength. Not by their works. Not by their endurance.

By FAITH in the absolute GOODNESS of God.

What You Must Do NOW

1. REPENT

Acts 2:38 - “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Turn completely around. Confess your lukewarmness, your compromise, your denial.

2. REFUSE THE MARK

Revelation 14:9-11 - “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”

NO MATTER WHAT, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK.

You will lose your ability to buy or sell. You will be hunted. You will likely be killed.

But if you take the mark, you will be ETERNALLY LOST.

3. BE WILLING TO DIE

Revelation 12:11 - “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

“They LOVED NOT their lives unto the DEATH.”

Peter said he was ready to die with Jesus—but he wasn’t, because SELF was still in control.

Now YOU must truly be ready to die—not in the strength of your flesh, but in the power of His grace.

4. STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS

Just like Jesus commissioned Peter: “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Find other tribulation saints. Encourage them. Build them up. Point them to Jesus.

Share Peter’s story. Share YOUR story of being crushed and restored.

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The Absolute Goodness of God: He Crushes to Heal

Psalm 51:17 - “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

“A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt NOT DESPISE.”

God doesn’t despise your brokenness. He HONORS it.

Psalm 34:18 - “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

“The LORD is NIGH unto them that are of a BROKEN HEART.”

God is CLOSEST to you when you’re most broken.

Isaiah 57:15 - “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

“I DWELL… with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.”

God DWELLS with the broken, the crushed, the humble.

This is His absolute GOODNESS:

He doesn’t reject you in your brokenness. He meets you there. He restores you there. He rebuilds you there.

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Peter’s Message to the Left Behind

If Peter could speak to you now, having been crushed and restored, here’s what he would say:

“I thought I was strong. I thought I was faithful. I thought I was ready to die for Jesus.

But I wasn’t. My flesh was weak. My SELF was a liar. My bold declarations were empty.

I denied Him. Three times. To a servant girl. To random bystanders. With curses and oaths.

I failed at the moment of greatest testing.

And I wept bitterly. I was crushed. Ground to powder. Destroyed.

But Jesus—in His absolute GOODNESS—restored me.

Not because I deserved it. Not because I earned it. Not because I was strong enough to come back.

Because HE is faithful. Because HE is good. Because HIS grace is sufficient.

If you’ve been left behind, don’t despair. The road ahead is hard. You will suffer. You may die.

But Jesus is STILL praying for you. Your faith can still stand. You can still be saved.

Repent. Refuse the mark. Be willing to die. And strengthen your brothers.

The same grace that restored me will restore you.

Because God is ABSOLUTELY GOOD.”

1 Peter 5:10 - “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

“The God of ALL GRACE.”

“After that ye have suffered a while.”

“Make YOU perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle YOU.”

HE will do it. Not you. HIM.

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The Prayer for Those Left Behind

If you’re reading this after the Rapture, pray this prayer:

“Lord Jesus,

I am Peter. I denied You with my life, my choices, my lukewarmness, my compromise.

I thought I was saved, but I had no oil in my lamp. I thought I was ready, but I was building on sand.

The Rapture happened, and I was left behind. The door was shut, and I heard “I know you not.”

I am crushed. I am broken. I am ground to powder.

But I know You are still praying for me. I know Your grace is sufficient even for me. I know Your absolute GOODNESS extends even to those who denied You.

I repent. I turn completely around. I confess my sin, my pride, my SELF.

I will refuse the mark, no matter what it costs. I will be willing to die for You, not in my own strength, but in Your grace.

Restore me like You restored Peter. Use me to strengthen my brothers and sisters in this tribulation.

I throw myself on Your mercy. I trust in Your absolute GOODNESS.

Save me, Lord. I am weak, but You are strong.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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To Those Reading This Before the Rapture

If you’re reading this and the Rapture HASN’T happened yet, take heed.

Don’t be Peter.

Don’t be bold in your flesh and weak in your faith.

Don’t assume you’ll stand when the testing comes.

Don’t trust in your own strength, your own faithfulness, your own readiness.

Get oil in your lamp NOW.

Humble yourself NOW.

Surrender fully NOW.

Let Jesus wash your feet NOW.

Because when the testing comes, your flesh WILL fail.

Only His grace will sustain you.

Luke 22:31-32 - “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”

Jesus is praying for you. Let His faith—not your flesh—be your confidence.

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The Rock Rebuilt by Grace

Peter’s name means “little rock.” Jesus called him Petros—the little rock.

But the little rock had to be crushed to dust before it could be rebuilt.

Not by Peter’s strength. By God’s grace.

And when Peter was rebuilt, he was no longer a rock made of flesh. He was a rock made of GRACE.

Solid. Unshakable. Enduring.

Not because of Peter. Because of CHRIST.

This is the absolute GOODNESS of God:

He crushes us to heal us.
He breaks us to remake us.
He grinds us to powder to rebuild us.

All by GRACE.

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If you’ve been crushed—whether before or after the Rapture—there is HOPE.

His name is JESUS.

And He specializes in restoring the broken.

Maranatha!

Soli Deo Gloria—To God Alone Be the Glory

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