Christian Devotional – March 2, 2026

Observations from the Doctor, Day 26

Second chances. Read Luke chapter 22.

Reading through Luke chapter 22 is a reminder of the last night Jesus spent before he was crucified. He celebrates the Passover with his disciples as a reminder of the promise and a very poignant example of exactly why Jesus was there in the first place. He goes out and he prays fervently and desperately, begging his disciples to pray with him, but finding that they were too tired and lacked the strength.

And then, we see his arrest and mockery of a trial. While so many verses in the chapter stand out to me (and we could study and look at so many of them!) the one verse that this really resonated to me today has to do with Jesus offering Peter a second chance.

Before Peter even understands what he’s going to do, Jesus knows. Jesus is aware that Peter is going to betray him. Not once or twice, but three times. Jesus tells Peter that he has been praying for him. Jesus knows what Peter is going to do, and then reminds Peter that when he turns back after betraying him, he is to strengthen the brethren. You see, Jesus is not finished with Peter yet. Even knowing what Peter is going to do, knowing the betrayal and the hurt that Peter is going to inflict on him, Jesus still offers him a second chance.

Jesus still wants him to lead and to strengthen the other believers. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself, and even in that still wanted Peter. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and even with all of the darkness, hurt, pain, sin and the betrayal that we have on our hands, Jesus still wants us. Jesus still seeks after us and offers us a second, third, fifth, or 25th chance because his sacrifice paved the way for our forgiveness.

Do we understand that Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves? And when we turned back to him, are we focused on strengthening other believers around us? We will betray him. We will mess up and we will let him down. But when we turn back to God, are we focused on strengthening other believers around us?

Watch the video devotional here: https://youtu.be/HCgwnfFXI0Y