Peter Denies Jesus

 

July 7, 2020

 

Mark 14: 66 -72

 

Peter Denies Jesus

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”   But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.    And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.”  But again, he denied it. And after a little while, the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”   But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”   And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

 

What would have happened to Peter, if he would have not denied Christ?  Good question and I have the answer, he didn’t, and Jesus told him he would deny Him.  What many of us like to do is play a game called what if?  When Jesus speaks, it cannot be anything but the truth, it is written.  

 

Do you live your life as if Jesus tells the truth, if you do you believe John 14:6 and are concerned for those who are trying to find God's favor in their good works, church, parents, or anything but bowing a knee to the Son of God?

 

You are not going to be more religious than the Pharisees and scribes, those dudes would have dragged a hard-working Baptist around who was trying to earn salvation by their performance.  Apart from grace and forgiveness of what Christ did on the Cross for your sins, it is like trying to cross the ocean without a boat or a plane, it is never going to happen.

 

Peter, the denier became Peter the apostle, but it was because the Holy Spirit of the living God came to live in him.  Peter knew something that many of us have yet to learn, the Christian life has been lived by one man, the Christ, and we can live it through Him doing it all for us.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice