After Jesus is arrested, Peter is secretly following Jesus to see what is happening. Scripture shows that fear dictates Peter’s responses when Peter is accused of knowing Jesus and traveling with him. Peter adamantly denies knowing Jesus, not once, but three times.

“Immediately, while he [Peter] was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had told him, ‘Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Lk. 22:60b-62 NASB).

Like Peter, we have all failed. We have failed to walk faithfully as followers of Jesus. We have succumbed to fear and failed to stand by those who have loved us. We have succumbed to envy and failed to love our neighbor. We have succumbed to self-centeredness and failed to encourage those around us. We have lived for ‘me’ instead of living for ‘we.’ We have torn down others instead of building up those in our community.

Good Friday is a time to grieve for our mistakes, our failings, and our shortcomings.

Peter wept bitterly over the realization of what he had done. Good Friday is a time to face our guilt and weep bitterly for the things we regret doing. We need to weep and cleanse our heart and soul for Easter is soon upon us. Good Friday reminds us that the lamenting of our sins precedes the joy and hope that shines forth with Resurrection Sunday. No matter how deep our despair, there is hope, there is healing. The weeping of Good Friday prepares us for the joy of Easter morning.