With just a few words, someone who knew what it was like to deny Christ gave us a lot to think about. According to Peter, if we are not growing in our love for others, we have forgotten how much we’ve been forgiven (2Peter 1:8-9).
Jesus said something similar to a Pharisee who objected when a woman poured out expensive perfume on Jesus’ head— washing his feet with her tears, and drying them with her hair. Jesus reminded his unnerved host that the person who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47).
Am wondering whether, when Peter wrote about the significance of forgiveness in spiritual growth, he was thinking of that conversation. He had probably been at the table of the Pharisee who shared his given name (Luke 7:39-47).
My guess is that Peter was a different man after hating himself for what he had done and then realizing that Jesus had forgiven him.
Am also wondering whether you hear Peter and Jesus saying something that we can never afford to forget– even though we’d all probably like to…