Reading the Word

Luke 22:54–62 (ESV)

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Understanding and Applying the Word

After Jesus’ arrest, Peter followed along at a distance to keep an eye on what was happening. This is the same Peter who, just a few hours earlier, had promised to never abandon Jesus, even if it meant he would die at Jesus’ side. When others recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ disciples and began questioning him about it, Peter denied that he knew Jesus. He did this not only once, but three times. After the third denial, Peter heard a rooster crow and realized he had done exactly what the Lord had said he would do. He had denied Christ.

Before we come down too hard on Peter, we need to ask ourselves if we have ever done anything similar. I believe, if we are honest, that most of us are guilty. We have been in conversations where we failed to speak up when Jesus was being discussed. We have had opportunities to share the gospel with others, but instead remained quiet. We have tried to remain in the shadows rather than be identified with Jesus because we believed that if we spoke up, we would face mocking, ridicule, or persecution. We have failed Jesus just as Peter did.

It is wonderful to know that Jesus went to Peter later, after the resurrection, and restored him. Jesus let Peter know that he was forgiven and that there were many things for Peter still to do in the plans and purposes of God. Peter would testify to the world about Jesus. Jesus also stands ready to forgive us and use us for his glory in this world. We are also called to continue to testify to the wonder and truth of the gospel. Let us take the message of Christ to a world that is desperately in need of Jesus, forgetting our failures and focusing on the grace and love of our Savior.

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