“Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.” Matthew 5:25 HCSB

Jesus is the adversary before salvation. Not an adversary that He is against us, but that we are against Him. While we are living on the road of life we need to make peace with Him. If we do not then we will stand before God the judge and He will hand us over to an angel who will throw us into the prison of Hell that was designed for Satan. 

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We can make our peace with Jesus and then He becomes our intercessor with God. He wants to see us succeed and prosper. He prayed for Peter in Luke 22:32 that Peter’s faith will be strengthened and that Peter will be about to encourage his fellow brothers. He is doing the same for us. 

Peter had to be forgiven and had to forgive Himself after He denied Jesus three times in the temple courtyard.

“Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you? ” “I am not! ” he said. Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you? ” He denied it and said, “I am not! ” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden? ” Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.”

John 18:17-18, 25-27 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.18.17-18,25-27.hcsb

Jesus later showed up on the beach after His resurrection and lit a fire and was cooking some fish. Upon arriving at the beach Peter no doubt smelled the fire and was reminded of the night outside the temple. And Jesus asked these words to Peter.

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.”

John 21:15-17 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.21.15-17.hcsb

Peter had to come to full repentance of his lack of identity with Jesus. He had let Jesus down but now had made His peace with Jesus. After this morning he would begin to be the lead disciple. He would be the one who would start the process for Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:15-26). He would be the one who would preach to the masses on the day of Pentecost. He would be the one to go first to the Gentiles. He would be the one whom God would use to establish His church in Jerusalem.  

All this would not have happened if Peter had not come to repentance that morning around the fire. 

How about you? Do you have a past that haunts you? Have you come to Jesus to make peace with Him about your past? He has already forgiven you but you must make your peace with Him so that you may become the disciple He wants you to be. He is praying for you that your faith will be strengthened and that you will one day encourage other people so do the same.