MARK 14:66-72 – And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN. Today’s scripture is the familiar account of Peter’s public denial of the Lord. It is full of instructions for us, but we want to focus on one application. It was the most important lesson Peter needed to learn and is the most important lesson in the Christian life we need to learn. But we need the “other half” of the account to get its full teaching force. Let’s look back at Peter’s bold, but ill-advised profession he made to Jesus in front of all the disciples.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same (Mark 14:26-31).
We are observing two separate Peters. Peter, number one, is proud, bold, self-confident, trusting his own strength, and sincere. Peter number two is humbled, broken, empty of self-confidence, void of reliance on self-strength, and sincere. Quite a change in the once proud fisherman!
Two things to think about concerning Peter. He was sincere in his love and devotion for Jesus when he foolishly made his bold statement of never denying the Lord. He was also sincere in his love for Jesus during and after his denial. The second thing to ponder about Peter is what he learned about himself after his denial. This is the lesson for us as well.
When Peter broke down and wept, he quickly and deeply saw his true condition and heart. He became aware of his weakness, his depravity, and the foolishness of trusting one’s own heart, reason and strength. And that is the most important lesson to learn in the Christian life – never rely on anything of self. It will lead only to defeat and a trail of tears as it did Peter. King Solomon would say this to Peter and us in a very direct way – Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered (Proverbs 28:26). Wise words from a wise man, and a powerful lesson from a proud Peter who became a humble Peter.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for Your Spirit who reveals to me truth that I need to know.”
QUOTE: “To be made aware of one’s true condition is a great work of God’s Spirit.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim