Matthew 26:69-75 Peter's Denial

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. [Matthew 26:69-75 NASB]

Jesus had said, "Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night." [Matthew 26:31 NKJV] Peter famously answered, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” [Matthew 26:33 NKJV]

"Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”" [Matthew 26:34 NKJV]

When Jesus was arrested, Peter must have thought the moment to prove himself had come, so he took out a sword and started swinging. Not being a soldier, he managed to cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. But instead of praise, Peter received a rebuke from Jesus. 

When they led Jesus away, Peter followed at a distance. Convinced that he had proven his loyalty, he put Jesus' words out of his mind.

When Peter's moment of truth came, he didn't recognize it for what it was.

Peter was prepared to stand up for Jesus against an angry mob. He was prepared to lay down his life when confronted with violent opposition. He was not prepared for a simple question by a simple servant girl.

Martyrdom for Christ's sake is not something any of us aspire to. But it is a reality that many people in the world face every day.

I think that if faced with the choice of death or denying Jesus, most believers would choose death rather than deny their faith.

I also think that many of us would fail, and have failed in the same manner as Peter.

Have you ever been in the situation where you are in a department store (or other public place) and you have a slight stirring to say a word of blessing in Jesus name? Or, within that same setting, to pray for someone you don't even know? Or to share the gospel? I have. And I take no pleasure in saying that I have failed to follow through. I have dismissed the urge as a random thought, and I have wondered how people might respond.

It is odd, but it seems like it's easier to do the big things, but fail in the small things. 

I encourage you to pray with me. I ask God to forgive me for failing to obey the promptings in my heart, and by so doing, denying Him. I pray that He will give me grace to speak boldly and in pure obedience whenever He prompts me to do so.