"The Hope Of His Child"

There is another way to look at this realization of Peter: it is called 'Hope'. We, for the most part, have a distorted view of what 'Hope' really is, and what it should speak to us. It has almost become a word to describe a game of chance; as if to say, 'I hope I can find a job'; where we will use this word 'Hope' in place of 'maybe', or even, 'If the Lord wills'. However, when it comes to our eternal salvation, God's forgiveness, and His Mercies, Hope is not a maybe kind of thing; it is sure, and it is to be expected. In fact, our Hope is to be 'earnest expectation', or 'intense anticipation'. This would explain Peter's hast as he dove into the water from their boat, when Jesus showed up after His resurrection; Peter was full of intense anticipation that Jesus had forgiven Him for his denial. More than that, Peter, earnestly expected Jesus to forgive him; and why was that? For one, Jesus Himself foretold to Peter, that Peter would be deny Him; three times to boot. And secondly, because Peter understood what Jesus was all about; His mission, His purpose in going to the cross. As soon as Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter became aware of what He had been saying, and why He said it. It was as if the Light had went on inside his heart; the 'eyes of his heart had been opened', and now He could see why Jesus was crucified on that cross; he could feel what Freedom really meant, and that it was not a physical freedom that they were waiting for. In John 13:36-38, Peter asked Jesus a question, "Lord, where goest Thou?"; this was because Jesus had been instructing them in how He would be leaving them shortly, and how they should love one another. At this point in Peter's life, he still did not get the big picture, nor did he really understand what Jesus was getting ready to do: he still had a heart that was nonacceptant of Jesus' determination to die on the cross. Then Jesus answers Peter, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterward." This was a hint to Peter that he too would one day be crucified upon a cross, but Peter did not get that then; but was more focused upon going into battle, or rising up against the Roman rule; not to lay down his life without a fight, but more of a willingness to give his life in a fight. Which is why he answered back, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake." Which is when Jesus set him straight, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice". This is why, for Peter, he was so aware of this 'Hope'; in fact he called it 'Living Hope'... "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His Abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a Lively Hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)