Deny Jesus?

(Today's Reading - Leviticus 14; Matthew 26: 20-54)


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.

We can beat Peter up pretty badly when we consider his denial of Jesus. I mean, come on, he had been with Him for three years, seen the miracles and heard the teaching. Surely he could remain faithful when He was taken prisoner. John 18 tells us that it was Peter that drew his sword and cut off the ear of the soldier as Jesus was being arrested. In the garden, he was ready to fight and die, so what gives? What changed from the garden to the city gate? That would never be us... would it?

Let's consider the event. A few days earlier, Jesus entered the city as the King; now he's a "criminal". A few days earlier , he was the Messiah; now he's a "mess". He was going to set up His kingdom; now  the only place he would be setting is prison. When things happen that change our lives dramatically, how do we react? A person we held in high regard announces that they have been unfaithful to their spouse. A teacher we respected is arrested for inappropriate conduct with a student. A minister is shot by his wife and we learn that he abused her. How do we respond when our worlds get shaken?

While I can read and imagine what Peter felt, I cannot fully understand what this event did to his life. The "man" that he had given up his life for, is now a prisoner. The leader that he vowed to follow anywhere, was now leading him to jail, or even worse, the cross. So, Peter denies knowing Him. When faced with jail or death, Peter chose to lie. He walked away and went back to fishing.

What about you? What about me? Do I follow when it is easy? When life is going great, it is easy to praise God. But, what about the times when things go wrong? Do we deny? When prayers are being answered in a way that we like, praise God. But, when we are confronted with a result that we don't like, what then? How do you react then? What do I do then?

Life is filled with spiritual seasons. Sometimes it is spring and the flowers are blooming. Sometimes it is winter and their is little sign of life. Events happen, things come our way... we loose our jobs, many have lost their homes, divorces happen, people disappoint us; that is life my friend. We are blessed to have the full story of what happened during those three days in the life of Christ. We are able to see the resurrection as the fulfillment of His purpose. In those moments after Jesus' arrest, Peter was not that fortunate. He couldn't read the next chapter in Matthew. He only had the events of the day and a decision to make about how he would respond.

Thankfully, Jesus didn't leave him fishing and no matter what comes our way, he will not leave us either. In the words of Casting Crowns... may we praise Him in the storms. I am thankful that God chose to share Peter's story of denial with us. It gives us hope. If an apostle can lose his faith and then be restored, their is hope for us... in every circumstance. Thanks Peter!