I Saw You With Him

²⁵As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"

He denied it, saying, "I am not."

²⁶One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

John 18:25-27 (NIV)

They pressed Peter again and he denied Jesus again. Then an eyewitness stepped forward and IDed Peter. He denied Jesus a third time. Jesus had been right that Peter would deny Him three times. The cock crowed. Peter was busted. Maybe Peter feared that he too would be crucified with Jesus. Maybe Peter feared that this last guy was going to try an-ear-for-an-ear on him. Nevertheless, Peter feared. Things were spinning out of control even though Jesus told him this would all happen - and that it had to happen.

When things start to spin out of control am I apt to do the same thing as Peter and deny Jesus? Maybe not verbally, I'm probably more apt to do it in my actions. But if I truly believe God is sovereign and in control, why should I fear? Why should I fall short in my belief? Why should I deny? When I believe that God is sovereign, I can be confident in Him and I shouldn't deny Him. When I deny Him, it shows my unbelief. I believe! Help my unbelief!

That Was Easy

"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:17 (NIV)

Peter told Jesus he would not deny Him. Peter defended Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene. Peter followed Jesus as He was taken to the high priest's house. He gets there and finds a crowd. You're His discple she says to him. He emphatically says "NO!" Now, I'm not a Greek scholar, but from what I've read of the Greek definitiions of the words in question, it's pretty clear that Peter was pretty clear about saying no. He didn't mumble "nah." He didn't avoid the question. He answered and his reply was clear: "NO!"

How quick am I to deny Jesus? If I were in a hostile environment and questioned if I knew Jesus, I don't think that I'd be like Peter with a quick emphatic answer. I'd probably mumble and equivocate a little and then perhaps pretend I didn't hear the question. How would I feel about it after the fact? I'll be pondering that today...