Peter learned from his betrayal of Jesus. In a few short months he went from a slump shouldered guilt ridden man who betrayed Jesus face to face three times – he went from that to a man restored to intimacy and fidelity to everything Jesus was and is. So much so, that in Acts 9:34 Peter actually acted on Jesus behalf.
How did that happen? Not the miracle Peter participated in but the miracle of a transformed heart?
I think the transformation happened in the darkness of Peter’s soul, in the grief he suffered alone as he reflected on his betrayals. My experience of betrayal is that what needs to happen is deep reflection, genuine regret and a new vision for the love motivated grace and forgiveness only God can bring to bear.
It is like the tendon on my left elbow. It is on fire. Aflame. I did some damage to it a few years ago. Topical treatments have done nothing. The physical therapist recommends deep lateral massage three times a day followed by ice. The tendon responds to deep and so does the soul. The heart is like the tendon, it responds to the deep.
What happened to Peter? Same thing happening to my elbow – deep healing, slow healing, healing that demands me to be still in the darkness and not jump up to some otherwise important thing.
What happened to Peter? Peter became restored by Jesus’ willpower and grace.