Mat 26:73-75 (NIV) After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

It hurts when we fail Jesus. But, this is a very important moment in Peter’s life. He, like we, had to learn that self-dependency, which produces self-confidence, isn’t the answer to living the life of the cross.

His attitude was good. His intentions were good. He thought he was telling Jesus the truth when he said he would be willing to die for Him. We all think this. When we fail, we all weep bitterly. This weeping isn’t with spiritual understanding though.

Peter is very disappointed in himself. He probably hates himself right now. He doesn’t see this mistake as being one isolated event. This particular failure seems to be all inclusive. Because of it, he now probably thinks he is no longer worthy to be one of Jesus’ disciples. He made Jesus a promise; he tried with everything he had, and failed Jesus. He is starting to realize that he isn’t made out of the right stuff. Until we all come to this place, we will always be incomplete in our training.