Denied

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times!                               John 13:37-38

Wow! these are hard words for Peter to hear from Jesus especially after reading Matthew 16:13-16 when Peter declares that Jesus is the Son of the Living God and now to hear that he will deny this same man. However Jesus knew what was about to happen even thro Peter did not. Let’s visit that evening with the disciples, it was after Jesus was arrested, John 18:15-19 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you? she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them warming himself.

Second time and Third Time-John 18-25-27 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him,” You aren’t one of the disciples too are you? He denied it, saying, “I am not. One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden? Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. And he went outside and wept bitterly.  Matthew 26:69-75                                                                                                      It can be hard to imagine the pain that Peter was feeling inside of himself at that very moment or is it? Haven’t we at one time or another in our own lives disown Jesus ourselves, thinking to ourselves I don’t need you God, I can do it all on my own, but we truly can’t, can we?  Jesus did warned his disciples in John chapter 16:16 In a little while you will see me no more, and than after a little while you will see me.” Yes Jesus was talking in parables once again but his disciples could never imagine what was about to take place to someone they all came to know and love so well was about to be crucified, and that one of their own Judas Iscariot was going to be trade Jesus. This was the very reason that Jesus came into this world to save us from our sins. The prophet Isaiah foretold what would happen.

Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed.

Jesus love you and I so much that he took our place on the cross, so that we would never be separated from God because of our sins.

 

Grace and Peace to You my Friends