Three Strikes and You're Out

Pitchers and Catchers have reported, Spring training has begun, and the 2026 baseball season is underway.  After a lackluster season by my beloved Bengals, I am ready for baseball season. Hopefully, my beloved Reds won’t have a lackluster season, either. As is the case every year, I have faith that they will make it to the postseason and possibly to the World Series. The last time they made it to the World Series was the year my youngest child was born. 36 years ago. He was born on October 2, 1990, and the Reds clinched the championship on October 20, 1990. Will my faith be unfounded? The writer of Hebrews says that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. I think that, based on that definition, I have “hope” rather than faith.

If you’re familiar with the game of baseball, you know that when a batter is at the plate, the objective is to hit the ball and to run to a base without being thrown out. If the pitcher throws 4 balls out of the strike zone, the batter gets to take first base. However, if the batter swings and misses 3 balls, he is out. Three strikes and you’re out.

Fortunately, the game of life doesn’t adhere to the same rules as the game of baseball. Especially if you are the apostle, Simon Peter. In Matthew 26:31-36, Christ predicts that everyone will scatter and that Peter will deny Him 3 times. “Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” But Peter answered and said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.” Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing, too.

The next example of 3 strikes was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew wrote after Christ’s prediction, a few verses later, 36 to 46: “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done.” And again, He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. “Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

After that, Judas betrayed him over to a detachment of Roman soldiers (or possibly Temple guards), accompanied by Jewish officers, and they arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Peter followed them from a distance as they led Him away, and as he was keeping warm in the courtyard, Matthew records in chapter 26, verses 69-75, “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a certain servant-girl came to him and said, 'You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again, he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” And a little later, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a cock crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a cock crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”

After all that, falling asleep three times while Jesus asked him to keep guard while He prayed, and after his 3 denials of Jesus in the courtyard of the high priest, Jesus asked Peter three questions while they shared a meal by the sea of Galilee. John records it in Chapter 21, verses 15-17.  “So, when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

Do you think that Peter had any idea why Jesus asked him that question three times?  Do you think he was reminded of the three denials he made in the courtyard of Caiaphas?  After Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus sought to restore Peter. In this pivotal moment, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus illustrates a profound aspect of grace. It shows that forgiveness can be extended without a formal request for it. While Peter did not explicitly ask for forgiveness, his sorrow and subsequent actions demonstrated his repentance. Jesus recognized Peter’s readiness to accept forgiveness and offered it unconditionally, emphasizing that one’s past mistakes do not define one's future purpose.

Peter’s experience highlights the themes of mercy and redemption in Christianity. Despite his denial, Peter was forgiven and entrusted with a significant role in spreading the message of Jesus, showcasing the transformative power of Christ’s love and forgiveness. The teaching emphasizes that just as the Lord forgave Peter, we are expected to extend the same mercy to others, acting with compassion and humility. Peter’s journey from a limited understanding of forgiveness to experiencing deep, redeeming grace represents a core theme in Christian theology regarding repentance and mercy. While we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, we still press on as the imperfect creatures that we are. Fortunately for us, Christianity doesn’t adhere to the same rules as the game of baseball.