Jesus is Denied by Peter
Photo by Ted Miller, PICS volunteer, Saddleback Church
Matthew 26: 69-75 (NIV):
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
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.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 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.
Questions:
When have you been tempted to deny Christ?
What is it like for you to hold the reality that Peter both denied Christ and then was appointed by Christ to lead the church?
Prayer:
Father, how easy it is to deny the truth when faced with persecution. Give me the strength by your Spirit to stand with Jesus in the truth, even when it feels risky.