Scripture Reading(s)
Matthew 26:69-70
26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”
26:70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
Reflections
These two verse are short but are so heavy. This is the first of Peter’s denial towards knowing Christ, the Saviour he boldly claimed he would never deny even if the rest did. There was no hesitation in his voice. It was a quick and no nonsense response. There Peter stood just having witnessed Jesus being accused of not being the son of God by false witnesses and then watching the first physical blows, being spit upon, struck and slapped. Fear probably seized his heart and in an effort to protect himself denied having not even knowing who He was or who was supposedly with Him. Notice how the text was every specific to mention who Jesus was “the Galilean” as if to not mistake Him for someone else. To drive the point home that the Jesus who was at the moment being accused and severely hated upon, was the one who Peter had once walked with.
When a believer enters into sin, it does not happen over night. It begins with denying that you can even be capable of falling into sin and therefore letting your guard down by believing you are strong enough to stand against sin. As previously mentioned in past devotional, Peter’s first initial denial was the fact that he could not admit that he was prone to fall into sin. His heart may have been filled with genuine love for Christ, however if we are not fully prepared and watchful to sin’s snares, we too can easily fall into that same trap.
Peter, having had been warned by Jesus that this would happen, did not equip himself for what was to come. Jesus is our only source of strength when it comes to standing strong in the face of temptation. Whether that is avoiding a struggle or standing up for Christ’s name, our strength is found in Christ alone.
God’s word teaches that even in the midst of a scary situation He will give us peace. John 16:33″ have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Hang on to the promise of God’s peace and strength that is sure to come when faced with trial and temptation.