Denying Jesus

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. He knew before the day ended, when it most mattered, Peter would not stand up for Him. He knew Peter would choose comfort over compassion. His own safety over his Savior. Peter told Jesus he was willing to go with Him to prison. That he was ready to go with Him to death. But Jesus already knew. He knew what had to be fulfilled. “Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.” How hard that must have been for Jesus. To know He was about to be seized. To be taken away. To be falsely accused. And His very disciples. The ones who saw the miracles. The ones who should have had the most faith. The ones who had just argued about which of them was considered the greatest. Would in their next breath, deny Him. Scripture says, once Jesus was led away by the guards, that Peter followed at a distance. Far enough away, I guess, so no one would associate him with Jesus. Just hours before, Peter was adamant that he would be there. Right next to Jesus. Standing up. Being bold. But when faced with reality, he couldn’t do it. “This man was with him”, they said when they saw Peter following. “I don’t know Him,” Peter replied. “You also are one of them,” they whispered. “I am not!” Peter yelled. “Certainly this fellow was with them!” they continued. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Peter exclaimed. Three opportunities to stand up. To be bold. To be courageous. And all three times, he denied Him. The rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter was filled with regret. How often this is us! Saying we love Jesus. But only with those who love Him too. We are not bold. We don’t bring up His Name with strangers. Or at work. Or in our social circles. Because bringing up His Name isn’t allowed. Or accepted. We might be considered strange. Or too religious. Talking about Him could make people uncomfortable. Because it’s not “normal” to say His Name in casual conversations. To talk about His promises. To bring up His sacrifice. And so we get nervous. And timid. And consider our comfort over His Cross. “You will deny me too,” Jesus says. “No we won’t,” we assure Him. And then, like Peter, we do.