How to Deny Jesus
But [Peter] replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death”…
Peter followed at a distance…
Peter sat down with them…
“Woman, I don’t know him,” [Peter] said…
Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him…
And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:33, 54, 55, 57, 61, 62 (NIV)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How to Deny Jesus
The story of Peter’s denial of Jesus is sad, sobering and encouraging – and all at the same time. It is desperately sad to think that one of Jesus’ closest disciples, who has spent so long with him and knows him so well, could let him down so badly – and at a time when Jesus most needed his friends. It is sobering when we realise that we can be, and have been, just like Peter in denying that we belong to the Lord or that we are one of his people. And yet ultimately it is deeply encouraging, to realise that there is a way back even for those who deny the Lord outright, and that our salvation does not depend on any contribution that we make but solely on the mercy and faithfulness of our Saviour Jesus.
It is also an instructive story, because it shows us the mis-steps Peter made which led to his denial. It begins with over-confidence. Jesus has just warned Peter that “Satan has asked to sift you as wheat” and then says to him, “when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). He knows that Peter will fail him. And yet Peter ignores the warning. It is a dangerous combination when we ignore the warnings of Scripture and yet at the same time begin relying on ourselves instead.
The next mis-step is that “Peter followed at a distance” (verse 54). He is dangerously detaching himself from Jesus, and he has just said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” It seems he is no longer with Jesus. We too flirt with danger when we attempt to follow Jesus, but at a distance. There really is no substitute for spending time regularly with him in prayer and reading the Bible.
The next mis-step is almost inevitable. Having detached himself from Jesus, “Peter sat down with them” (verse 55: these were just some of the people who were in and around the house of the high priest). At one level, we may wonder what could be wrong with that? Crucially, he is no longer with either Jesus or the other disciples. He has detached himself from fellowship. It is, then, hardly surprising that he soon denies being one of the disciples. When he is asked, “You also are one of them,” he replies, “Man, I am not!” (verse 58). If we want to be faithful followers of Christ, it is hard to overemphasise the value of fellowship with others who also want to follow him. If we try to go it alone we will end up going away.
And yet, there is solid and lasting hope for both Peter and us. We are told that when the cock crowed as Jesus said it would, “he remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him” (verse 61) – the word he had ignored when he was relying on himself. The important thing is that he acts on this word, in the light of what he has done, and “he went outside and wept bitterly” (verse 62), which is the start of his restoration.
There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin…
when you come as a sinner to Jesus.
Lord, we thank you that, though we often let you down, you will never let us down; help us to heed your warnings, to stay close to you and your people, and to return to you when we fail. Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)