We all want to think that we are true to the Lord. We think that it is other people in tough situations who give in to denying their Savior.
"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him, "Before the rooster crows today you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly." Luke 22:61-62, NIV.
PETER
Peter was the vocal and leading disciple, a zealot who was quick to say the others may deny the Lord but not him.
He denied the Lord to a servant girl, not a strong armored roman guard with a sword. It was a small thing and a person who was little in society- just a servant girl. The next person was a nameless person in the Bible and so is the one after that; people who are forgotten, but to them, Peter denies knowing the Lord.
The thing is not who he denied it to but who it was he denied. He only thought about who was in front of him, he thought more about his situation than about his Savior.
THREE
There were three opportunities to stand with Christ, but they became three defeats for the disciple. After denying the Lord to the servant girl Peter was less able to declare his loyalty to the stranger and in the case of the third "called curses down upon himself." The depth denial increased with each incident.
THE FOURTH DENIAL
At the third denial, the rooster crows and Jesus looks at Peter. Was it the last chance for Peter? Was this an opportunity to set things right? Could Peter have then declared that he took it all back and then owned Jesus as friend and master? We do not know if it was the last opportunity to stand with Jesus but we know he goes outside.
Peter does not find himself in a better place; he did not win new friends, status, fame or fortune. He found himself "outside." Each small step led to a place outside. We think little compromises give comfort or aid us in some way but we find ourselves weeping outside.
A BIG TRUTH ABOUT DENIAL
Peter runs outside the courtyard and weeps bitterly. Each step leads to this scene of regret and remorse. Each action led to the next, and each denial was worse than the one before. We must beware of the little compromises. The heart of denial starts in the little steps, they are small but the consequences are great. We must beware of the little compromises, that is where denying the Lord starts and where the unfaithfulness to him begins.
To learn more about finding Jesus as your Savior follow this link: Click Here.
"The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him, "Before the rooster crows today you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly." Luke 22:61-62, NIV.
PETER
Peter was the vocal and leading disciple, a zealot who was quick to say the others may deny the Lord but not him.
He denied the Lord to a servant girl, not a strong armored roman guard with a sword. It was a small thing and a person who was little in society- just a servant girl. The next person was a nameless person in the Bible and so is the one after that; people who are forgotten, but to them, Peter denies knowing the Lord.
The thing is not who he denied it to but who it was he denied. He only thought about who was in front of him, he thought more about his situation than about his Savior.
THREE
There were three opportunities to stand with Christ, but they became three defeats for the disciple. After denying the Lord to the servant girl Peter was less able to declare his loyalty to the stranger and in the case of the third "called curses down upon himself." The depth denial increased with each incident.
THE FOURTH DENIAL
At the third denial, the rooster crows and Jesus looks at Peter. Was it the last chance for Peter? Was this an opportunity to set things right? Could Peter have then declared that he took it all back and then owned Jesus as friend and master? We do not know if it was the last opportunity to stand with Jesus but we know he goes outside.
Peter does not find himself in a better place; he did not win new friends, status, fame or fortune. He found himself "outside." Each small step led to a place outside. We think little compromises give comfort or aid us in some way but we find ourselves weeping outside.
A BIG TRUTH ABOUT DENIAL
Peter runs outside the courtyard and weeps bitterly. Each step leads to this scene of regret and remorse. Each action led to the next, and each denial was worse than the one before. We must beware of the little compromises. The heart of denial starts in the little steps, they are small but the consequences are great. We must beware of the little compromises, that is where denying the Lord starts and where the unfaithfulness to him begins.
To learn more about finding Jesus as your Savior follow this link: Click Here.
© Adron 3/21/13
