interestingly, Peter seems to be a man of threes. Jesus accepted him into his inner circle of three disciples. on the mount of transfiguration, he witnessed Moses, Elijah, and Jesus speaking. when they came to take Jesus to his crucifixion, Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed and ran off, hanging his head.
this same Peter is eating with Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus asks him if he loved Him. Jesus asked this question three times. every time Peter announced that he did love him, Jesus said to feed my sheep. in Acts, Peter was given a vision of different animals and told to rise, slay, and eat. Peter replied that he had never eaten anything unclean. Jesus responded to this claim, do not call unclean what I have called clean. the Bible says that this was repeated to Peter three times. i’m still not sure that Peter understood the message that Christ was trying to explain until he heard the Gentiles speak with other tongues.
perhaps the boldness of Peter did not afford quick reasoning. at times, Peter’s shoot first ask questions later attitude may have outweighed his spiritual discernment. i am thankful, however, that on the day of Pentecost, it was Peter that stood up. he did not need three times to get it right. he informed the crowds of what was happening, by who this had happened, and what they had done. when the audience became aware of their transgression, i’m thankful that a Holy Ghost emboldened Peter stood up and proclaimed the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation to those that were pricked in their hearts.
he did not need three times to get it right, but the three elements of his sermon: repentance, baptism, and infilling of the Holy Ghost are still the only Bible way to be saved. God said my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways (Isaiah 55:8). I know the plans I have for you (Jeremiah 29:11). He also mentioned not taking away or adding to his word (Deuteronomy 4:2). so the traditions of men are null and void. Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). look it up for yourself.
Peter, being a man that had to hear it three times, delivered the one plan, for the one God, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Peter was a man of threes, but Jesus is very singular. let us repent, turning from our self-will toward alignment with God’s perfect will. this about-face is our first step on a journey to a new life. i bless you in the name of Jesus.