Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

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“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
recognized the good qualities of Peter and extended special
privileges to him. Peter, along with James and John,
personally witnessed certain miracles that the rest of the
12 did not get to see. (Matthew 17:1, 2; Luke 8:49-55) As
we noted earlier, Peter was one of the apostles who accompanied
Jesus farther into the garden of Gethsemane
on the night of His arrest. Yet, that same night when Jesus
was betrayed and taken into custody, Peter and the
other apostles abandoned Jesus and fled. Later, Peter
proved brave enough to stand outside while Jesus was illegally
tried. Still, Peter then became fearful and made
a serious mistake—three times he lyingly denied that
he even knew Jesus! (Matthew 26:69-75) How did Jesus
react? How would you have responded if a close friend let
youdowninsuchaway?
13 Jesus was prepared to forgive Peter. He knew that Peter
was crushed by the weight of his sin. After all, the repentant
apostle “broke down and gave way to weeping.”
(Mark 14:72) On the day of His resurrection, Jesus appeared
to Peter, likely to comfort and reassure the apostle.
(Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5) Less than two months
later, Jesus dignified Peter by letting him take the lead in
giving a witness to the crowds in Jerusalem on the day
of Pentecost. (Acts 2:14-40) Let us remember, too, that Jesus
did not hold a grudge against the apostles as a group
for abandoning him. On the contrary, after his resurrection,
he still called them “my brothers.” (Matthew 28:10)
Is it not clear that Jesus did more than just preach forgiveness?
14 As disciples of Christ, we need to learn to forgive oth-
14. Why do we need to learn to forgive others, and how can we demonstrate
a readiness to forgive?