Peter Disowns Jesus - Matthew 26:69-75
Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Reflection:
Today we have the classic story of Peter's denial of Christ. Remember Christ had warned Peter of this temptation. Remember Peter had said he would follow him even unto death. Remember Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We also observe Peter did not deny Jesus once but three times, and each time with a greater degree of rejection. He even called down curses and denied it by oath, a very serious offense in those days. In summary though Peter showed the greatest of devotion and allegiance to Christ while he was with him, he couldn't have denied him in a more flagrant form in this time of Jesus' greatest need.
And yet we see that in response to the cock crowing he was reminded of His Master's words. His remembrance of the Word of Christ led him to repentance. And we see as aspect of this true sorrow. Not sorrow because of personal consequences, but because of his relationship with The Lord. Later we will see restoration but today we see denial, acknowledgement and then repentance. Repentance is not just a feeling, but a change of heart and mind. A true sorrow as result of being convicted by the Word of Christ as led by the Holy Spirit.
Peter went from just trying to fit in with the crowd to direct denial of his Lord. We see the slippery slope of a lukewarm faith and response to Jesus. Jesus said you are either for me or against me And if we are for him, we are for him when circumstances are good, and for him when it might cause us personal hardship. After all that is at the root of any relationship, are they with you when things are not going so well.
I remember when I was going through a great physical trial with my body that rendered me incapable of doing the things I would normally do, true friends came beside me and walked with me through about a six month period of trial. A pastor I served with literally came over and walked around the lake with me. It was a great metaphor for discipleship both of walking with the Lord and also are walking together in good times and bad. Amen.
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Reflection:
Today we have the classic story of Peter's denial of Christ. Remember Christ had warned Peter of this temptation. Remember Peter had said he would follow him even unto death. Remember Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We also observe Peter did not deny Jesus once but three times, and each time with a greater degree of rejection. He even called down curses and denied it by oath, a very serious offense in those days. In summary though Peter showed the greatest of devotion and allegiance to Christ while he was with him, he couldn't have denied him in a more flagrant form in this time of Jesus' greatest need.
And yet we see that in response to the cock crowing he was reminded of His Master's words. His remembrance of the Word of Christ led him to repentance. And we see as aspect of this true sorrow. Not sorrow because of personal consequences, but because of his relationship with The Lord. Later we will see restoration but today we see denial, acknowledgement and then repentance. Repentance is not just a feeling, but a change of heart and mind. A true sorrow as result of being convicted by the Word of Christ as led by the Holy Spirit.
Peter went from just trying to fit in with the crowd to direct denial of his Lord. We see the slippery slope of a lukewarm faith and response to Jesus. Jesus said you are either for me or against me And if we are for him, we are for him when circumstances are good, and for him when it might cause us personal hardship. After all that is at the root of any relationship, are they with you when things are not going so well.
I remember when I was going through a great physical trial with my body that rendered me incapable of doing the things I would normally do, true friends came beside me and walked with me through about a six month period of trial. A pastor I served with literally came over and walked around the lake with me. It was a great metaphor for discipleship both of walking with the Lord and also are walking together in good times and bad. Amen.
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