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Love Covers Over a Multitude of Sins
By Julie | February 9, 2009
In honor of Valentines Day week, we wanted to do a re-post from something written last year. One of the ultimate proofs of love from the Bible…
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
That is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It’s a verse I’ve always liked. It’s short and easy to remember, so it’s always stayed with me. But for a long time it was just a nice verse. Then a couple years ago something struck me as I read it, something I hadn’t taken into account earlier: the author. That verse came from Peter! You-will-betray-me-three-times-before-the-rooster-crows Peter. Changed-his-voice-and-used-foul-language-to-disguise-his-alliance-to-Christ Peter. If anyone could understand “love covers over a multitude of sins” it was this Peter. Not because of his great sin, he wasn’t Judas; he didn’t sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. No, the reason I believe Peter truly understood was because of his incredible guilt for having betrayed, not only an incredible man, and friend. But Peter knew he betrayed God himself. Things may have gotten a little shaky that morning in the Garden of Gethsemane, but in his heart, Peter knew.
He had seen the miracles, and rocked back and forth in the boat before the waves were calmed by the mere voice of his rabbi. He wanted to be like him so much that he blindly stepped out on the water to walk toward him. For awhile his faith held him up, until he realized he was going against natural law, then he began to sink. Peter knew there was only one option for who Jesus really was. In fact, he was the first person to confess it with his own lips:
“But what about you?” (Jesus) asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” – Mark 8:29
He knew the truth. But Jesus still warned he would betray him. Peter couldn’t believe it:
Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today-yes tonight- before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will disown me three times.”
But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” – Mark 14:29-31
I think he was ready to give his life for Jesus, that he believed they were all the verge of a battle. Peter was prepared to fight. What he wasn’t prepared for was Jesus giving himself as a living sacrifice; at that time Peter didn’t realize humanity needed a sacrifice. Peter watched Jesus get arrested, watched him surrender. Peter knew he didn’t have to, that Jesus had the power to overcome. He couldn’t handle watching him surrender, so he took matters into his own hands:
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear…
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” – John 18:10-11
So, it seems Peter had been ready to die for the cause. But within the same chapter, Peter denies he even knew Jesus, three times, before the rooster crowed twice. He knew it, and Jesus knew it:
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him… And he went outside and wept bitterly. – Luke 22: 61-62
When Jesus caught Peter’s eyes, Peter knew God was looking at him. Because a mortal man could not have known of his future sin, or the specifics Jesus gave of it. You don’t weep bitterly over something you don’t care about. So Peter hung as close as he could. Staying with the Disciples, running to the grave at the announcement it was empty, trying to sort out why he went from living an amazing life with the creator the world, to a nightmare full of guilt and shame. He knew he had betrayed what he loved most of all. He thought he’d always have to live with it.
Finally, Jesus appeared to them, he began to explain, and slowly they started to understand. But what was happening in Peter’s mind? Did he wonder, does he want me here? Has he forgiven me? Will I ever be anything in his eyes again? Finally, he gets the chance to find out:
…Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love you?” He said, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21: 15-17
Peter received what many of us never really get: true forgiveness for betraying the one he loved most. How many people are wandering around in guilt and anger because the same had never been granted to them? Wouldn’t they be liberated to let that go! Would they also claim, “Love covers over a multitude of sins”? Peter lived it. He knew. And he was more than qualified to pass the message on to us.
Be sure to read Marc’s mini-comic “Five Years” on Webcomics Nation about Peter and Judas.
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