Peter’s Denial
Holy Week // Day 5
Scriptures - Mark 14:27-31, 66-72
“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.”
“While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it. 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, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”
Devotional
Pop-out Scripture - Mark 14:30-31
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
Have you ever looked back upon your life and thought, “What was I thinking??” We all do things that we never thought we would do. Peter insisted that he would never deny Jesus, yet later that same night he denied Him three times. Notice something else in this story, though. Jesus knew ahead of time that Peter would deny Him, and He still enjoyed a meal with Peter and took him along to the Garden of Gethsemane to keep watch while He prayed. In the same way, Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and can predict when we will sin. Yet He calls us brothers–co-heirs (Romans 8:17). In John 21:15-17, we see Jesus giving Peter the opportunity to claim Him three times, asking, “Peter, do you love me?” When you know you have acted against God’s will, listen for His sweet voice asking, “Brother, do you love me? Sister, do you love me?” It is never too late to turn toward His voice and say, “Yes Lord… You know that I love You.”