Holy Week Devotional, Thursday, March 28, 2024
By Kaye Saxon
Will I stand with the One who stood for me?
By Kaye Saxon
I have always been slightly fascinated about the story of Peter’s Denial, since I first heard it as a child in elementary school. I went to a parochial school in my earlier elementary days. I can see myself in the classroom, watching the filmstrip (yes, I’m that old) about the betrayal and arrest of Jesus and Peter’s subsequent denial. I remember feeling stunned. In my mind I couldn’t help but ask HOW could this man, one of the 12 chosen, who had walked with Jesus, learned from, and witnessed Jesus perform incredible miracles, deny knowing him??? I didn’t get an answer then but have pondered it often over the years. There seems the obvious answer of, “He was afraid for his life.” But that didn’t really answer it all for me.
So, as I contemplated what to highlight this season, or more over, what Holy Spirit might want to highlight for ME and maybe others, I was drawn back to this part of the story, His story – and Peter’s story – and our story.
As I reviewed the gospels, I noted that this denial is mentioned in EVERY gospel. That isn’t the case for every story. But to me it was of significance that each author felt it was important to include Peter’s denial. Also, as four different authors wrote about it, they clearly knew about it. It doesn’t appear that they witnessed it, except possibly John. To me that means that Peter must have confessed it to them. He likely, very transparently, processed it with his ministry team, with his fellow disciples, the team he had been doing life with for the last three years. I think the Holy Spirit knew we ALL would relate to this story at some point. It would not be an uncommon struggle and to see Peter overcome it, is redemptive.
Let’s look at two of the gospels where Jesus foretells Peter’s denial:
Matthew 26:30-35 – 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Peter had seen many followers fall away, offended or maybe afraid of the Jewish leaders or even the Roman soldiers. He had stuck it out to this point, surely he was confident he would stay now. “Even if I must die with you.” he says. I’m sure he believed that, but did he really know how he would respond to his world being turned upside down?
Luke 22:31-34 –31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
In Luke 22:24-30, prior to the above foretelling, the disciples had just been arguing about who was the greatest among them. No doubt Simon Peter was among those pleading their case for rank importance. Jesus then shares with Peter that his faith will be tried, that Satan will rock his world – sifting him like wheat – not just him but all the disciples. But He also said – “when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was saying, Peter, I believe in you, I KNOW that despite your response, despite the shaking, you WILL get back on track, and I am counting on YOU to strengthen your brothers. They too will be shaken – but you Peter – the rock – will remind them of who they are, and who I am.
In this exchange Peter didn’t get it yet – he couldn’t imagine the shaking that would be coming. He felt sure of his determined faith and allegiance to his Lord.
Peter Denies Jesus –
Luke 22:54-62 – 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.
They, those that seized Jesus and turned Him over to the high priest, kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. I imagine the conversation, the debrief of the night, and the people that would be hanging out to warm themselves. Peter wasn’t there gathering intel from the enemy. I believe he was trying to blend in and hide. He hadn’t considered this turn of events. He was a follower of the SON of GOD. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. He may have thought to himself, “Was I wrong?” He seems to panic. He adamantly lies, distancing himself from Jesus. It is uncomfortable to be His associate. His world was shaken, leaving his confidence shaken. Is this really the Messiah? Am I ready to stake my life on it?
I can only imagine the gut-wrenching shame he may have felt when, in this version it says, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Peter then went out and wept bitterly. I would add that in that moment when the Lord looked at him and he remembered what He had said, Peter remembered who Jesus truly was.
John 18:15-27 –15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
ln John’s portrayal of events he interrupts the telling of Peter’s denial with the high priest’s questioning of Jesus. He mentions Peter warming himself by the fire of the enemy – the servants and officers who had arrested Jesus. He seems to emphasize Peter’s choice to comfort and protect himself while Jesus is being questioned and struck. The fact that in that exchange Jesus responded to the high priest that he should “ask those who have heard me what I said to them” is interesting too. It is interesting that Peter would have been such a person to ask. We then see John resume Peter’s story by repeating that he was standing and warming himself by the fire. He notes his repeated denial and ends with the rooster crowing. John doesn’t mention Peter’s remorse. His focus is on Jesus.
So, what about my initial question about Peter? How could he have denied Jesus? Today I’m asking a more important question, “What would I do? What WILL I do?” Do I really know how I will respond to my world being shaken?
Looking back over the last few years, I’ve had opportunities to make more and more decisions about whether to make a stand for freedom, liberty, righteousness, justice, and sanity. Am I also taking a stand for the One who gave me my life, who gave me salvation and grace and mercy and peace and EVERYTHING? In His exchange with Peter, Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me?” I imagine the emphasis on the word WILL. WILL you lay down your life for me?
I, we all, have the opportunity daily, to ask ourselves this question. Will I lay down my life for Him? Will I acknowledge my faith and my savior to family, to friends, to co-workers? When people ask, “Are you a Christian?” How do I respond? Will I be recognized by my beliefs and behaviors as being a follower of Christ? Can I handle religious persecution? Can I stand and speak TRUTH in the face of lies and deception? Will I warm myself by the fire in my home, or will I venture out in the storm to stand with the One who stood and stands for me?
I’m not always confident in what my response will be. The struggle is real. I also know the Lord is calling us NOT to be lukewarm. He calls us to speak truth and life. And, to stand for truth and life. We are asked to lay it ALL down to follow him. My prayer today is for boldness to stand for Jesus, the strength to follow Jesus, and the wisdom to know how to show the love of Jesus and the salvation He offers to others.
Pray with me: Lord, we thank you for your sacrifice, for the way made by You that gives us eternal life with You. The grace and mercy You offer in love to us cannot be surpassed. I ask for Your wisdom as I go through each day to guide my interactions. Let them be filled with love and light. Give me the strength to be bold in my witness to others of Your love and sacrifice. Give me the strength to stand in opposition to darkness despite the cost that may come. Give me the truth to speak in love. Let Your light shine through me and Your protection be around me. I know where this story ends. It is with You, and I trust You to lead my path. Amen
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