Matthew 26:58
But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Peter was the kind of guy who liked to see things and experience things for himself.  From that first call of, “Come and see,” Peter got involved in what was happening.  He often stepped up when no one else did, and as a result he had some unique experiences in his walk with the Lord.  He’d cast the net out and drew in the multitude of fish.  He’d proclaimed Jesus as the Christ.  He’d been on the mountain for the transfiguration.  He’d walked on the water.  And now there was one more thing he’d have to see for himself.

This was a different kind of lesson for Peter, though.  He would discover very soon exactly the kind of man he was when he denied Jesus three times.  He had intended to see what was going to happen to Jesus but instead saw a bitter end for himself, as well.  Where his heart had once been so much toward Jesus and wanting to have his part with Him, now he separated himself and distanced himself from the one he had claimed to love so much, the one he said he would die for.

But if what happened that night was truly the end, Peter would have had no hope.  None of us would.  Because Jesus was put to death and buried, but that wasn’t an end, but a beginning.  And so not only did Peter have a new beginning, but each of us can, too.  His story wasn’t over, and he would get to experience some more amazing things—healing the lame man in the temple, preaching to multitudes, raising a woman from the dead, seeing the church rising up all over the world.

It’s such a privilege to be part of what God is doing.  Maybe we need to be a little more like Peter and get right in the middle of it all.  Maybe we need to take chances or speak up or go somewhere unexpected.  Maybe we need to go and see and find out for ourselves who Jesus is and who we are without Him and who we can be with Him.  Maybe we need to do whatever it takes to experience all that we can of Him here, willing to make mistakes and fall sometimes but come out all the better for it on the other side.  We only get one chance to live our lives, so let’s make them count for Jesus.