Daily Devotion for March 23, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPassionate Christ
Day 23

 

Third Denial

 

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."  He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."  Mark 14: 70b-71

 

They gathered around Peter, in the shadows of that dreadful night, growing in confidence as their eyes grew accustomed to the dark and as their numbers increased. "Surely," they said. The word is hard; there is very little room for uncertainty in such a term. This is the man. They are sure now. For one thing there is the matter of his accent.

 

As distinctive as a Texas drawl, Peter had given himself away with his speech. So what was a northerner like this fellow doing hanging around the high priest’s house if he was not a follower of that northern rabbi? Did anyone know him? It was looking more and more as though they had cornered one of those wild, religious nuts, right there in the palace. Would you believe it? What a nerve!

 

Peter was frightened now, frightened of his accusers and frightened of himself. If he was arrested, he could face an unpleasant fate as the one who had struck and wounded the high priest’s servant. More than this, he was frightened by the quickness with which he had twice denied Jesus, who had meant so much to him for the last three plus years. Perhaps it had all been a delusion. If Jesus really was the Messiah, would he be treated so badly by those who should have welcomed Him? So, Peter denied Him again, and the tongue which was made for praise uttered such curses that his accusers drew back with their severity. Peter swore, "I do not know the man of whom you speak."

 

Did the curtains part with the breath of night, and did their eyes meet, the Savior and his disciple? I wonder who wept the most?

 

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."  And he went outside and wept bitterly.  Luke 22:60b-62 

 

Prayer
Dear Lord, the pain of deception, the pain of being deceived – I am not sure which is worse.  Forgive me for the times that I too, like Peter, have denied you, times I have not stood up as “one of Yours”.  Thank you for your love, mercy, and fatherly understanding that continues to stare me in the face.  Amen

 

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