Peter's Denial
Peter’s denial of Christ
Matthew 26:33-34, Mark 14:29-30 and Luke 22:34 tells of Jesus informing Simon that before the rooster crows the next morning, he would deny three times that he even knew Jesus. But please notice in Luke 22:31-32 Jesus tells Simon, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Wow! First off, Jesus pleaded in prayer for Simon’s faith not to fail. That is a revelation to me right there. Jesus was interceding for us before He even ascended to the throne.
Even though Peter was forewarned that he would deny Jesus, He still did it. Now I know he was upset and worried because Jesus was arrested. But it wasn’t that long before Jesus was arrested that he told Simon he would deny Him. He actually denied him three times and he had to hear the rooster crow before he remembered what Jesus had told him.
Luke 22:61-62 says, “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me. And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.”
When I think of this, I think of all the times I have done wrong. Now, I do not ever remember denying knowing Jesus. But do we deny Him every time we have an unkind word or thought come out of our mouths or into our minds? Do we deny Him every time we put our own personal desires and wants before His? Many times I wonder how often I have saddened Him when I failed to do His will.
I know He is merciful and very forgiving. Romans 3:23-4 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” God, in his grace, freely makes us right in His sight through Christ Jesus, freeing us from the penalty of our sins.
Romans 8:34 says “Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Look at that word, pleading for us. Just like he was pleading for Simon and his faith, Jesus is pleading for us.
Jesus is pleading for us! I know I wrote it twice. But think about this statement, Jesus is interceding for us every day. My desire is that He is also pleading that my faith does not fail. That I don’t have to keep my faith strong in my own will. That is my weakness; He is my strength. John 14:20 says “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
Jesus is in me and I in Him. I can rest easy knowing that if I mess up, He is pleading that my faith will not fail.
--Anita Chaney