Following Jesus has always had a great degree of difficulty. For us today, it is a great challenge to follow Jesus without denying him, in a society that loves sin more every day. The disciples of Jesus at that time also had a great challenge, and I believe that one greater than ours, because we are talking about a time where following Jesus could lead you to death. But, there are no excuses to deny our beloved Lord.
First, we remember that moment in which Jesus told Peter that the moment would come that would deny him:
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:34
Before Jesus told this prophecy, Peter was willing to die for Jesus. The same thing happens to us, sometimes we say: “I would die for Christ”. But when we are in the moment, we do the opposite. We have to ask God very much to give us the necessary strength to never deny our Master.
Then, we realize that this is fulfilled in Peter:
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.
67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.”
70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Mark 14:66-72
It is notorious that they were going to know that Peter was with Jesus, since he was his disciple and walked with him everywhere. It was obvious that at a time like this they would recognize him. In this part we no longer see Peter saying: “I am willing to die for you Christ.” We see an attitude totally different from what he had said.
Peter uses a terrible expression when they say he was one of the of Jesus’: “I do not know him, nor do I know what you say.” It is incredible! That man who was willing to give his life for Christ, now poses as someone who does not even know Jesus.
For us, life is so precious that it is often more important to us than God himself. Remember that this should not be our attitude as servants of God:
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39
The impressiveness of the case is not so much that Peter denied Jesus, but that he continued to do so. An attitude of this nature would be totally difficult, and perhaps we have not yet faced a similar situation. But in some small day-to-day circumstances, we sometimes deny Jesus. Can you imagine at a time like Peter’s? What would you do?
The Word of God says:
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Mateo 10:33
There is a very bad reward for those who deny Jesus and become practitioners of that act. Peter is the perfect example for us, since in his life he showed us several mistakes, but despite of that he showed love to Jesus Christ.
Peter was not happy with this situation of denying the Master, but “cried” when he remembered this. The worst thing about denying Jesus is not that people realize it, the worst thing is that we are hurting the Father’s heart with our attitudes, and this must be the central axis of struggle for not to deny our great Lord.
Let us ask God for strength every day to stand firm before any trial and proclaim Jesus Christ every second of our daily life.
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