Peter Denies Jesus
John 18:12-27
Monday–Peter Denies Jesus
“Caiaphas, was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people” (John 18:14)
Caiaphas was correct. It was better for one person to die for the people. His intention was that Jesus would die so that peace would continue with the Romans; so that the status quo would be kept. Avoiding change would assure that money would continue to flow into the coffers of the temple and enable him to continue his affluent lifestyle.
God accomplished something different through the death of Jesus. Through the death of one man there was reconciliation, peace and new life which God provided for all. That death ushered out the old and brought in the new; it established the kingdom of God.
It has been said that God took the greatest evil and accomplished the greatest good. God certainly moved in ways, which no one understood at the time, to accomplish God’s purpose. God still moves this way in our lives today.
Lord, though we do not understand, help us to continue to trust in you and rest in your love. Amen.
Tuesday–Peter Denies Jesus
“Simon Peter and another disciples followed Jesus” (John 18:15).
The others had scattered. Peter and another disciple had followed Jesus, though their following was different. They had first followed Jesus because he had called them and told them that he would make them fishers of people. Now, they followed him because they didn’t want to dessert Jesus and leave him alone. They may not have been able save him, but they wanted to be near him during his hour of trial. In the confusing times of those final days, Peter and the other disciple followed their hearts.
We live in confusing times. It is difficult, if not impossible, for us to see what the Holy Spirit is doing, and we certainly do not know the future. Still, we follow our hearts—and pray that the Holy Spirit is the one who is leading us through our hearts—our gut feelings. We do not know—we may succeed in our intentions, as we assume the other disciples did, and stay near Jesus. There is a possibility that we will fail miserably, like Peter.
In either situation, we are always in God’s hands. Nothing can separate us from God’s love—not gut feelings, good intentions or dismal failures. If the leading of our heart is correct, we rejoice. If we stumble and fall, we confess, receive God’s forgiveness and continue to follow—trusting that God’s love and grace will be made known in our words and our actions.
Guide us in these confusing times, Lord, so that we may always be witnesses to your love and grace. Amen.
Wednesday–Peter Denies Jesus
“’You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He [Peter] said, “I am not’” (John 18:17).
Peter had been with Jesus. The people around him realized this. They had seen Peter with Jesus. Peter’s Galilean accent also gave him away, because the people knew that Jesus was from Galilee. Peter wanted to be near Jesus and to be loyal to him. When the people asked Peter, though, if he were a disciple of Jesus, Peter crumbled. Suddenly he was fearful, thinking the people might turn him over to the temple guard. “No, I’m not his disciple,” he replied.
We have been with Jesus, too. If we have allowed the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Spirit’s work in our lives, we have been changed and the people around us may call us into account. “I saw you going to church last Sunday. Are you a Christian,” a person will ask. They will challenge us. “You talk about a loving God. How can God be loving and allow tragedies like the high school massacre in Parkland, Florida?”
Feeling uncomfortable, we may, like Peter, deny our faith. “Oh, I just go to church for the kids.” We may remain silent because we do not know how to respond to their questions. Eventually guilt will replace the fear and the confusion. We failed the test.
It is true, we should be prepared to bear witness to our faith in Jesus. When we fail, though, God does not condemn us. Instead, God embraces us with God’s love, forgives us unconditionally, and sends us back into the world to be God’s witnesses, and servants and to share God’s love and grace.
Lord, empower us so that we are able to bear witness to your love and grace when the opportunities present themselves. Amen.
Thursday–Peter Denies Jesus
“I have spoken openly to the world” (John 18:20).
The Christian faith is not a mystery religion. In the gospel of John, when Jesus invited some of his disciples to follow him, he invited them to, “Come and see.” Jesus ministered to the people openly healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the hungry and stilling the storms. Jesus’ teaching is for all to hear and his example of what life lived in a relationship with God is like is for everyone to see.
Though our times of devotional reading and prayer may be done in the quiet solitude of our homes, we live out our faith in the public. Our works of love and service are viewed by many. When people ask us about our faith, we invite them, as Jesus invited us, to “Come and see.” The good news of Jesus is not a secret, nor is it to be hidden. Rather, it is to be proclaimed lovingly and boldly.
Lord, keep us from hiding our lights under a basket. Instead, enable us to let our “little lights” shine. Amen.
Friday–Peter Denies Jesus
“If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong” (John 18:23).
That which has occurred in the darkness has been coming to the light. The newspapers, television and internet have been filled with reports of sexual abuse by powerful people, spousal abuse, affairs, embezzling and a host of other wrongs. People who were seen as good people, important people or powerful people are having their dark sides revealed. Unlike Jesus, they had something to hide.
We have all done something in our past of which we are ashamed. All of us have sinned and fallen short of what God wants for us and of what we expect of ourselves. Still, as followers of Jesus, we are called to live our lives with integrity. Jesus’ challenges to his accusers should be ours as well, “If we have done something wrong, show us.”
Living lives of love and integrity, we serve others with the prayer that the Holy Spirit will use our words and deeds to let others see and hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus.
Lord, as St. Francis prayed, “Make us instruments of your peace.” Amen.
Saturday–Peter Denies Jesus
“Now Simon Peter was standing warming himself” (John 18:25).
Peter got too near the fire and found himself on the hot seat. “You’re one of his disciples,” some of the people near him said.” A relative of the man, whose ear Peter had chopped off, accused him saying, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter denied both accusations.
It is easy to “armchair quarterback” the past and convince ourselves that we would have been braver than Peter. We would have admitted—proudly—that we were Jesus’ disciple. In truth, we probably would have been just as cowardly. Peter was fearing for his life. He didn’t want to meet the same fate as Jesus.
It is not helpful for us to live our lives fantasizing what we would have done in the past. We can only, “Love justice, do kindness and walk humbly before God” (Micah 6:8) and pray that, if we ever get on the hot seat, we will be able to boldly share our faith.
Lord, in whatever situations we find ourselves, may we honor you by our words and actions. Amen.
Sunday–Peter Denies Jesus
“Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed” (John 18:27).
Peter was so sure of himself. “I will never deny you,” he had declared when Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. Even so, Jesus loved Peter and the other disciples who deserted him, to the end (John 13:1).
Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus knows our strengths and weaknesses along with our likes and dislikes. Those times when we will soar like the eagles are known to him along with the times we will feel like worms. Still, Jesus loves us. His love for us will never change. This is the truth that inspires and empowers us every day of our lives.
Lord, your steadfast love for us is beyond our comprehension. Thank you. Amen.