The denial

The denial

Luke 22:54-62

“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 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.”

He followed at a distance. (Not too far that he couldn’t see Jesus but not too close to be associated with him and under threat himself. How close would you say you are?)

He sat down with them. (The temperature had dropped. He was feeling the cold. He sat with strangers and warmed himself by the fire. But something of their conversations began to trouble him. He was about to do something he said he would never do. What had they said? In your relationship with Jesus how warm are you? Be careful who you listen to as it may have an effect you wished it had never had.)

Two denials happen. (He was recognised firstly by a woman and then a man. It was a denial to both. It is easy to do something you would never do when you have done it before.)

One hour goes by. (What was he thinking during that time? Why didn’t he remember what Jesus had said about him denying 3 times and got out of there? We often find ourselves stuck in a moment that we can’t get out of. Glued to the spot.)

Another denial happens and at the same time the rooster crows as the Lord and Peter locks eyes on each other. (The look of love. The spotlight look. This is our prayer. Search my heart O God the Psalmist cries. The look is not condemnatory, it is a look of grace and a look that leads to repentance. May we lock eyes with Jesus today.)

He goes outside a broken man. (There is a brokenness that leads to death as Judas experienced. But there is a brokenness that leads to life. The tears of repentance.)