Lent Day 33 - Peter denied him

Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.’ John 18:27

Read John 18:15–18, 25–27

All the way through the gospel story, Peter eagerly followed Jesus. But on occasions, he got into trouble, including at the end when it really mattered. Jesus was arrested and Peter followed at a distance. A servant girl questioned Peter. ‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’ (18:17). Peter denied it. And then, it happened again. Peter denied Jesus again. Finally, one of the high priest’s servants challenged him, ‘Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?’ (18:26b). Again, Peter denied it . . . and at that moment a cock began to crow, and Peter remembered, and went outside and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). Within a few short hours, Peter had gone from being an adamant supporter of Jesus, to a friend who couldn’t stay awake, to a man with a sword, and then to a person who denied ever knowing him. How could he do that? But the human instinct for self-preservation is so very strong. I remember one day we were caught up in a riot in Nepal. A group of armed men stormed towards us, and we suddenly found ourselves hiding in a nearby shop, hardly knowing how we got there. Perhaps Peter succumbed to fear. Yet afterwards, he wept bitterly. His heart was so soft. And his story wasn’t over. Luke recorded that Jesus also said to Peter, ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:32). Jesus knew even then, that the story wasn’t over, and he had much more in mind.

Taken from A Time to Hope by Naomi Reed

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Pray

‘Lord, thank you that you forgive and restore your people, even frightened ones like Peter and us.’