“A Modern Day Denial of Christ”

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. —Matthew 26:69-74 (NIV)

 

We usually talk about Peter’s denial of Christ in and around the weeks leading up to Easter. The message, or rather the lesson, in these verses of scripture are important at any time, though. I remember thinking when I first heard this story as an adult that I wouldn’t dare be as weak and as scary as Peter. I mean, I’m a Christian! I wouldn’t dare deny Christ! I felt as certain as Peter when he said in Matthew 26:33, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” But he did.

 

I have learned in the many years since that there is so much more meaning in Peter’s denial of Christ than just a simple set of obvious circumstances. Additionally, if in the same exact situation, I’m not really certain at all how I would have responded. After all, Peter was one of Jesus’ closest followers. As one of his strongest disciples, Peter was the rock upon which Jesus built the church (Matthew 16:18)! What was it, then, that allowed Peter to deny Christ?

 

Even after Jesus warned him of his pending denial, he could not imagine it. Peter had been so certain of his loyalty to Christ!

 

Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing. —Matthew 26:35 (NIV)

 

The disciples were all in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus predicted Peter’s denial. Twice Jesus had awakened the disciples. He had urged them all to stay alert, to stay on guard, and to pray. He knew his arrest was coming. He knew it was going to be difficult for them. He knew they would need to be strengthened and on guard, so he urged them to watch and pray…to get prepared. And they meant to do just as Jesus had instructed.

 

Jesus had been arrested and brought in for questioning. It was a very hate-filled and evil scene. Can you imagine? Peter had stayed outside in the courtyard where he had hoped no one would recognize him. He realized he might suffer the same trouble Jesus was experiencing if the high priests recognized him, so he hung back, outside of where they could see him. When he was recognized and called out by a servant girl, he responded immediately out of fear for his own wellbeing. He denied knowing Jesus. He denied being one of his disciples, and he sought to seal his denial by outwardly demonstrating sinful behavior. Peter was afraid, so he denied Christ with his words, behaviors, and actions. Fear, of course, was one reason for Peter’s denial of Christ.

 

Later that very night, when the going got tough and all of the other disciples had fled…when presented with the crucial opportunity to demonstrate his commitment, Peter denied Christ! As scripture points out, Peter’s spirit was willing but his flesh was weak! Peter, like many of us, was unprepared for this test of his faith. By the time the rooster crowed, Peter had realized what he had done, and he was immediately ashamed. The weakness of Peter’s sinful flesh was another reason for his denial of Christ!

 

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. —Romans 7:19 (NIV)

 

Just like the disciples in the garden, we mean to do just as Jesus instructs in scripture. Like Peter, we cannot imagine denying Christ. It is easy to assess ourselves as faithful when the testing is easy. When not much is required outside of our routines, we can feel like we’re doing pretty good as Christians. Before the tornadoes and pandemic upset our usual and customary patterns of ministry and service, it was easier to be certain of our loyalty to Christ. We had gotten into the habit of weekly worship. We knew our ministry responsibilities. We were attending our ministry meetings. For the most part, we were fulfilling our ministry duties. Now that our routines have been upset for an extended period of time, and fear and weakness are taking hold, are we also guilty of denying Christ in some way? After we professed our faithfulness to God and our commitment to the ministry work we had at the beginning of the year, what are our words, behaviors, and actions now revealing? Are we demonstrating a modern-day denial of Christ?

 

Looking back at Peter, after his denial of Christ, the rest of the book of Matthew carries us through Peter’s shame, repentance, and subsequent restoration. Along with Christ’s resurrection, the 11 disciples are restored and commissioned to spread the good news of the Gospel! If we have denied Christ in any way during this season of uncertainty, we can repent, like Peter, and God will forgive and restore us. Then, as Romans 8:26 reminds us, God’s Holy Spirit will help us to overcome the fear and weakness of our flesh, so that we may go on to complete our ministry work.

 

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. —Philippians 1:6 (NIV)


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