By Randall L. Broad
Read: Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalm 95-96:13; Proverbs 14:5-6
Two days ago we read in the One Year Bible the story of the
Last Supper and the prophesy Peter would deny Jesus three times before the
rooster crows.
31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you
as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not
fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33But
he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34Jesus
answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny
three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:31-34
In today’s reading Luke describes the first two denials:
54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him
into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55And
when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down
together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated
there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with
him.”
57But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he
said.
58A little later someone else saw him and said, “You
also are one of them.”
“Man, I am
not!” Peter replied.
Luke 22:54-58
And the third:
59About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly
this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re
talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The
Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the
Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me
three times.” 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:59-62
Can you imagine that look? All of us have been given ‘the look’ by our
parents, teachers, bosses, or spouse. It makes your skin crawl, usually because
you know that you have done something wrong, broken some kind of promise or
trust. Other people’s recognition is a fundamental component of being human. We
seek the approval of the people we respect to validate our own humanity.
Fredrick Hegel believed the desire for recognition was the motor that drives
human history and all scientific and economic activity is a product of that
process. When Peter denied Christ he was acting as a human. He feared for his
own life even though he had boldly told Jesus in front of all the disciples he
would follow Christ into prison and the grave. He did not honor that promise on
the day Jesus was arrested. He denied Christ not once, but three times.
All of us as human beings, even the most faithful to Jesus have done the
same thing at least three times in our lives. I personally can testify to years
of denial. For decades I had a hard time wrapping my mind intellectually around
Jesus. I longed for him in my heart, but my rational nature could not accept
the gospel as truth. Peter knew Jesus was the truth. He was the one to answer
when Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you think I am?” So his denial was not
based on confusion or ignorance. It was based purely on fear for his own
safety. Life challenges us that way. God makes us chose between the easier
wrong and the harder right.
I believe when
Jesus looked at Peter this is what Peter saw:
The humility and strength of a man–Jesus stood
before all the people not as a king or a god, but as a man accountable for his
beliefs, teachings, and actions. He wanted Peter to know the price for
following Him. Jesus would soon be shedding the flesh and returning to the
spirit from which he came. Now Peter would have to lead the disciples and build
the church. He would need humility and strength. Jesus knew Peter had those
qualities, so he chose him to be the rock on which the church would be built.
In the eyes of Jesus must have been the affirmation of that declaration not the
condemnation of disappointment.
The courage of a warrior–it takes
incredible courage to fight and die for your convictions. Faith is an important
part of the warrior culture. Who would die for something they did not believe
in? All warriors feel fear. Whether they want to admit it or not, most warriors
have succumbed to fear at some point in their lives. They are left with the
feeling they let themselves or someone else down. Jesus may be the one
exception to that truth. In the eyes of Jesus must have been incredible courage
that would sustain Peter all the remaining days of his life.
The Love of God–‘the look’ is usually made
harder to bear because of our love and respect for the person giving it to us.
We know that we have let them down in some inexplicable way. Is it any wonder
Peter went and wept? But I have to believe in the eyes of Jesus were the
forgiveness of a brother and the love of a father. Forgiveness and love are the
foundations of God’s Grace. That is why he sent Jesus to die on the cross. That
is why he sent Peter to deny Jesus so we could remember to be humble and
strong, to have the courage of a warrior, and share the love of God.
Walk with the Lord …
Ephesians 1:17
(RLB250426)
© Copyright 2018: Randall L. Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
