(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)
For me, Peter is one of the most relatable people in the Bible. He's flawed and vulnerable and shows it. In fact, the Book of Peter is one of my favorite books. But today, I'm talking about something that is in Mark's book. It all boils down to a moment he has during the last supper with Jesus.
While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take this; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they drank from it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, "You will fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also. - Mark 14:22-31
It's a hard thing to comprehend how someone who walked with Jesus everyday, who saw the miracles performed before his very eyes, who got to know Him on a personal level could ever think to betray Jesus by denying Him.
This verse always makes me think about the ways that I deny Christ on a daily basis. Let's be honest, we all do. I'm not sure I could count all the ways in which we do this. We betray Him when we:
- Build our own little kingdoms to serve
- Forgetting to pray to Him
- Not having conviction within the church / selling out truth for popularity
- Not sharing His Word
- Turning our back on His plan
- Not loving our neighbors as we should
Okay, you might be digging your heels in a bit here and saying, "None of those apply to me!" but what about when you opt for Netflix instead scripture? Somebody blasphemes the name of God and you let them? When bed seems more comfortable rather then going to church? Have I hit a nerve yet?....
My point is, we ALL deny Christ. That's just reality. I don't write all of this to wag my finger in anyone's face because if that was the case, I'd just go look in a mirror because I am JUST as guilty as the next.
(Photo by There is a key part to that text above; notice how Jesus doesn't say to Peter, "and because of that you're going to hell?" or "and because you will deny me, I will never forgive you"? That's because Jesus knows that Peter will have a heart of repentance after he denies Him.
As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came and seeing Peter warming himself, she look at him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch. The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!" But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too!" But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a rooster crows twice you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. - Mark 14:66-72
I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt Jesus when we choose to deny Him; and make no mistake, it IS a choice. Peter had an opportunity to stand up and defend His Lord but he gave into sin and let fear stand in his way. I'm sure that does hurt Jesus. However, our sins they are many but God's mercy is more. Jesus knew very well that Peter would regret that decision and he would no doubt have asked for forgiveness and indeed been forgiven!
I've written about this many times - we're not expected to be perfect. We're made perfect through Jesus. Plan to make time for Jesus in your life so that it's difficult to deny Him but when you slip up, ask for forgiveness and pray that He'll help you do better.
