“But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.” Luke 22:57
The time of Jesus being arrested had arrived. He was in custody and was now being tried for crimes He did not commit. Most of the disciples ran away as Jesus was arrested. Peter chose to follow from a distance to see what was going to happen.
While he was standing with the crowds watching, various people recognized him as a follower of Jesus. A few chose to say something about it. Peter openly denies knowing Jesus. Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him, and now it was happening.
As a person reads this, looking at it from 2,000 years later, it is easy to be upset with Peter. Why would he ever deny Jesus? He had walked with Jesus and saw all the miracles He had done. He knew Jesus intimately.
The main reason was probably fear for his own life. Jesus was in the process of being condemned to a death sentence. Anyone who followed Him would probably receive that same sentence. Peter did not want that.
People have that same fear even today. Although in America, one does not usually receive a death sentence, there are other threats. You may lose a friendship, be pushed out of a relationship, ridiculed, passed over on a promotion, or many other “smaller” things.
Most believers do not directly state that they do not know Jesus. The denial comes in the form of being quiet. Refusing to make a statement about serving Jesus. Pointing out not liking someone else’s ridiculing Christians or Jesus. Asking others not to curse with God’s or Jesus’ name.
Silence can become a form of denial. Do not chose to be silent about your relationship with Jesus. Let your light shine. Think about what Jesus went through for you on the cross to give you life and not deny you. You have not gone through that, yet, so do not deny Him.
I pray today that God will fill you with His Holy Spirit to strengthen you; that you will stand strong and true for Jesus; that you will not deny Jesus in any way; that you will tell others about Jesus daily; and that God will build His kingdom through you.
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