Mark 14
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Mark 14:66-72, While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
This chapter begins the passion of Jesus Christ. It starts with an unnamed woman anointing him with expensive perfume at Simon’s home in Bethany. Then, we have the Lord’s Supper, when Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples and turns things upside down (as Jesus was prone to do), pointing to his own death. Then, there is Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial (which we get to experience later in the chapter), Jesus’ prayer and the disciples’ nap in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, and his time before the Sanhedrin. It’s a rather long chapter and a very important one so try to go through it slowly and take it all in.
For our focus verses today, I chose Peter’s denial of Jesus. I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus’ closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don’t really know. But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times. When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.
Maybe I’m fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat. I have denied Jesus. I haven’t spoke up with I knew I should have, I haven’t stood firm on certain issues, I haven’t loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven’t put Jesus first, I could go on and on. I have denied Jesus.
I hope that I’ve gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less. But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times. When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I’m filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent. And just like he did for Peter, I’m forgiven and restored.
Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are all sinners. I have sinned. The church has sinned. Forgive us. We want to do better. We want to live as the people you have called us to be. Guide us, Lord, and give us courage. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.