As my friend opened the door to me, a puppy streaked past her and the next several minutes were stressful to say the least as we tried to grab her before she was run over or fell into the pond. With the puppy finally safe and contained, my friend told me she’d been up since 4am with the little darling. ‘My kids talked me into this. They promised they’d do all the work,’ she said, with hollow laughter. In the moment, I’m sure they were entirely sincere. As was I when I decided last new year I would not go on social media in the morning so I could have longer to pray. As was Peter, when he vowed he would never disown Jesus. We are all capable of rock-solid intentions and we are all capable of failing to follow them through.

Psalm 103:14 says, ‘he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.’ Jesus knew Peter wouldn’t withstand the pressure to deny all knowledge of him (v 30). He knows that none of us could ever attain holiness in our own strength. His great compassion for our weakness took him to the cross.