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Matthew 26:69-75
Peter Denies Jesus Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. |
What would we have done in Peter's situation?
These verses tell us of the occasion when Jesus had been arrested and Peter denied knowing Him – not just once, but three times! Repeatedly, Peter says ‘I don’t know the man’ referring to Jesus in a remote and distant manner. And yet, just a short while before this when Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial he had told Jesus that he would never disown Him.
Peter was a disciple of Jesus and had been told about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet despite this closeness Peter still denied Him. I find myself asking what would I have done in such circumstances; what would you have done? How faithful are we in identifying with Jesus and being consistent in acknowledging all that Jesus has done for us in His death for our sins? If we’re honest I expect many of us are a bit like Peter where our love for, and acknowledgement of, Jesus, is not always what it should be.
We’re told that eventually Peter remembered what Jesus had said about his denial and that Peter wept bitterly when he realised what he had done. But that’s not the end! We know from the Bible that Peter continued to be a disciple and served faithfully in sharing the good news of Jesus as our Saviour. How reassuring to know that unlike us Jesus is perfect, He knows our weaknesses but still loves us. As it says in Hebrews 13: 8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Let’s be challenged to stay close to Jesus, be consistent in loving and following Him, and give thanks for all that He has done for us.
Fiona M