Peter denies knowing Jesus.

Peter denies knowing Jesus.  

Luke 22: 56-57 “A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

Extra Reading: Luke 22: 54-65. 

Most of us probably know that Peter was a Galilean; his strong accent gave him away. As he sat around the fire in the high priest’s courtyard, his accent had become a liability, something that associated him with Jesus of Nazareth. Peter’s confidence and courage had melted away under pressure. Just few hours before, he had courageously asserted that he would follow Jesus to prison-or even death. It is sad that at this point he was repeatedly denying any association with Jesus. Each denial distanced Peter further from the Lord: First, he denied being with Jesus in any way; second, he denied being one of Jesus’ followers; third, he fiercely denied even knowing Jesus. Then the rooster crowed, and Jesus gave him a look that he could not bear. The deep sorrow in Jesus’ eyes made him run from the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

The best part of this sad story is that it did not end here. Peter did not have to live the rest of his life with a heavy burden of sorrow and regret. Instead Jesus reinstated him and asked him to become a leader of his church (see John 21:15-21). With genuine sorrow and repentance, Peter learned from his past mistakes and mustered the courage and integrity to take a leadership role in the early church (see Acts 1:15 2:14; 4:13; 11:4; 15:7). The same should be true of every believer. Learn from your past mistakes and courageously serve Jesus. Please do know that it is painful to be denied by your own.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us not to deny you with what we say, what we do, or what we think. We pray for all this in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.

Rev. Samuel N. Modise