Devotional: Denying Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75

I have been guilty of denying Jesus. Have you ever been guilty of denying Jesus? All four Gospels give an account of Peter denying Jesus. We think that Peter did a terrible thing, and we would like to think that we would never deny Jesus. We live in a country where the laws protect us when we admit that we believe in Jesus. We are protected when we go to church and worship the Father in the name of Jesus. We would never deny Jesus. Yet, I admit that I have denied Jesus many times. Let me explain.

In the text Peter is asked if He were a member of Jesus’ party. Peter says to the first servant-girl, ‘“I don’t know what you are talking about.’” To the second servant-girl Peter says, ‘“I don’t know the man.’” When Peter is asked a third time, “he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’” (v. 74). Have you ever kept silent when you heard someone make statements about Jesus that you knew to be untrue? Have you ever acted like you do not know Jesus as you sit among His enemies? Have you ever gotten angry and refused to be identified with Jesus. Have you ever gone along with the crowd instead of proclaiming the truth of Jesus? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you have been guilty of denying Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we confess that we have been guilty of denying you. We pray that you will forgive our sin and restore us to yourself just as you forgave Peter and restored him to fellowship with you. Amen.