Thoughts on Denying Jesus

I read Matthew 26:69 – 75 this morning in The Message. This passage of Scripture covers the scene where Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, denies knowing Jesus three times. I was reminded of how much I am like Peter according to this situation.

First, Peter simply denies knowing Jesus. In verses 69 – 70 it says, “All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, ‘You were with Jesus the Galilean.’ In front of everybody there, he denied it. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’” How often do I claim to just not know what people are talking about when they are talking spiritual matters? I pretend not to understand the scope of the conversation because I’m afraid of bringing up a perspective that is unpopular.

Second, Peter swears he has never laid eyes on Jesus. Verse 72 gives us Peter’s response to the accusation that Peter was with Jesus: “Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: ‘I swear, I never laid eyes on the man.’” At times I’m willing to say that I never really understood who Jesus was or is. I may not put it as an oath, but I do claim that I don’t understand the way God works and that I don’t understand how Jesus may be involved in situations in my life.

Lastly, Peter denies any association with Jesus. Verses 73 – 74 say, “Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. ‘You’ve got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away.’ Then he got really nervous and swore. ‘I don’t know the man!’” Like Peter, sometimes I get really nervous that people will associate me with Jesus and His ways. My accent may be found in the way I say or do certain things instead of by the manner of my speech. It might be in the way I phrase something. I may do things that lead people to believe I’m associated with a Christian perspective. And, like Peter, I get nervous – nervous that I won’t live up to their expectations of what a Christian should be like.

Fortunately, like Peter, I am forgiven. And like Peter went on to be used by God for great and mighty things for the kingdom of God, God can still use me. Peter was repentant. I need to be repentant, too. I need to openly confess when I deny Jesus and change my behavior and attitudes to wholeheartedly be aligned with Jesus. I can do this today just as Peter did back in the first century, and end up being used by God.