April 11, 2025 | Be God's Family
Peter’s Denial
Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75(NIV)
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.
Devotional
Imagine you are standing in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ palace. Imagine that you see a familiar face sitting with a small group of bystanders. He looks familiar. Just a few hours earlier, this man had sworn his devotion to the man, Jesus, who was now standing trial just a few yards away inside the palace. He had even defended Jesus by wielding a sword against the servants of the priests. It took a lot of nerve to follow Jesus here!
Peter – bless his heart! Because of his brashness, he will be experiencing his own trial in the courtyard just as Jesus is facing his trial inside the palace. And the contrast between the two “trials” is shocking. While Jesus is boldly declaring his identity, Peter is claiming to not even know him. While Jesus is standing firm in front of the high priest who holds his life in his hands, Peter is denying Christ in front of two servant girls and some random spectators. Jesus is self-assured in his convictions and his mission. Peter is cowardly and renouncing his previous loyalty.
Peter’s denials grow more intense with each inquiry. First, Peter simply changes the subject. The next time, surrounded by a small crowd, Peter “denied it again with an oath”, stating he does not know “the man” (he can’t even speak Jesus’ name!). The third time, feeling more threatened by the crowd, he swears an oath again but this time with a curse upon himself.
At that very instant, the rooster crows, breaking the silence of the courtyard. In one of the most gut-wrenching scenes in scripture, Luke recalls that at that very moment, Jesus turns and looks directly at Peter, reacting to what Peter has just done and reminding Peter of his words (“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”). The emotions that must have overtaken Peter at that very moment were unquestionably strong and agonizing. Realization of what he had just done. Shame that he had rejected the one he loved. Anger that he could not stand up against such minor adversity. Failure in his promise never to desert Jesus. Peter immediately left the courtyard. Was this so that Jesus could no longer see him and his shame? We are told he “Wept bitterly”. The word used here means more than just cry – it means to wail or mourn. He was utterly broken and in deep anguish.
But this is not the end. From the depth of his shame and despair, Peter will rise, eventually being restored and becoming the foundation – the “Rock” – upon which Jesus will build his church.
How do we deny Jesus in our lives today and does Peter’s ultimate restoration give us hope?
Poem
No Good
Psalm 14
All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14: 3
In my mind my
Loyalty is strong
Truth is pure
Intentions good
Yet when mirror light
Reflects my heart
Flaws, scars
Infected pores
Wrinkled corruption
Are all evident
It does no good
To claim faithfulness
Truly
There is no one good
But God
This thought
Scares me
Shames me
Horrifies me
As I realize the darkness
Hidden in my heart
Fear, pride
Haunting sin
Crumbling integrity
All is evident
It does no good
To claim faithfulness
Truly
I have no good deed
To save me
