Threefold calls to be faithful

As you read the 4 gospels, there are a number of pressure points: Will Jesus and his disciples be faithful to how God says the world should be saved? Or will they turn from God's way of doing things?

These all seem to happen in threes.

• At the start of Jesus' public ministry, Satan tempts Jesus to seek control of the world now, immediately, without going through the cross. Jesus insists he'll do things God's way - he replies by citing Scripture. This happens three times (Matthew 4:1-11)
• After Jesus' disciples realise who Jesus is, Jesus needs to tell them that the disciple must suffer and die, then rise again. Peter rebukes Jesus for this, but Jesus recognises that this is Satan's temptation returning: "Get behind me, Satan". Jesus must have in mind "the things of God" - God's plan for him. So he teaches them of the need for his own death. He does this three times. (Matthew 16:21-18; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:17-19).
• At the end of Jesus' public ministry, the night before his arrest, trial and death, Jesus prays. He asks God to take "this cup", the cup of God's wrath, from him. And yet he draws back from that prayer. His ultimate wish is that God's will be done. Otherwise, "how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" (Matthew 26:54). Jesus must do things the way God has revealed they will be done. So he prays for strength - three times (Matthew 26:44)
• After Jesus' arrest, Peter is faced with a choice: Will he identify with his Lord, under trial, and probably soon to be killed? Or will he disown him? He disowns him - three times (Matthew 26:69-75).