Matthew 26:30-35

Matthew 26:30-35
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's only 6 verses, but fascinating in everything that happens.  Jesus predicts the disciples will all fall away, but Peter is bold enough to say that everyone else will, but he will not.  There is a pride here, as well as a stubbornness and an unwillingness to admit his weakness.  Peter can't fathom himself failing, even though Jesus knows that he will and tells him directly.  Peter then leads the remaining disciples into this false bravado -- Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.
  What is astounding here is not that Jesus knows that we will fail, but that he loves us ahead of time.  He warns us that we will fail, and yet he dies for us anyway.  That's what is so important -- Jesus knows our weakness ahead of time, and yet he still ascends the cross and absorbs our sin and our sorrow and our shame to redeem us, despite knowing that we'll falter and fail and deny him. 
  You are imperfect, yet you are perfectly loved.  Hold that close, so that when you fail you don't give up, but rather remember that God knows you will fail and offers redemption in Christ regardless.