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Denying Christ
April 5, 2024
Hey Clawson Family,
Song:
Scripture:
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
43 And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. 44 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” 45 As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.
66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!” 70 But Peter denied it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.
Devotional:
After Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, they went to a garden to pray. While there, soldiers came and arrested Jesus. One of his disciples, Judas, agreed to hand Jesus over to the authorities in exchange for money because he knew that some people didn’t like Jesus and wanted him to be killed. They took Jesus to be questioned and put on trial before the council of leaders of the time. While there, some of Jesus’ followers waited outside for him. Peter, who was one of Jesus’ best friends, stood outside, warming himself by the fire, when three different people asked him if he was one of Jesus’ followers. Peter was afraid they would hurt him, too, so he denied that he followed Jesus or even knew him.
When we read this about Judas and Peter, it's so easy to judge and say how could they! I would never! But if I am truly honest with myself I can say you know what I get it. I really do. I know what it's like to have good intentions, but then follow-through falls to pieces. It's easy to say the words — we're all in for Jesus, and we'll do anything He asks of us. But then we get rejected or hurt by someone or become afraid we’ll fail, and it becomes difficult to live out those words.
Fear, pain, and insecurities can really affect us.
It obviously affected Peter! He had walked with Jesus and seen him perform miracles. He knew Jesus was the Son of God! But then Peter watched as Jesus allowed Himself to be bound and arrested. Jesus was supposed to be the King who would deliver the Jewish people from the oppression of the Romans. How could this be happening? Peter didn't realize this was the only way he or anyone else could experience Jesus reigning as King in eternity.
So, in a moment of doubt and disappointment, Peter chose to distance himself from Jesus. Distancing himself to the point of complete denial.
To deny something we are actually saying, we don’t believe it's true. By our words, thoughts, or actions, we are saying that we don't really believe the truth of Who Jesus says He is or that He’ll do what He says.
Here's the hard questions we need to ask ourselves:
- Where are we denying Jesus’ truth in our lives?
- Where are we denying Jesus’ healing?
- Where are we denying Jesus’ forgiveness — for ourselves or others?
- Where are we denying Jesus’ redemption?
- Where are we denying Jesus’ hope?
Nothing is beyond the reach of our Jesus. In Him, everything is certain, no matter what we've done or what the enemy or our life’s circumstances may say.
We don't have to deny Him. We don't have to doubt His truth. His truth is certain. His victory is secure. And because we’re in Him and He’s in us, that truth is sure and certain for us, as well.
Journal:
In your journal today, take some time to write out what you would say if someone accused you of following Jesus. How would you respond? How would you defend your faith? Ask Jesus for help and courage.
Training:
Take a moment to identify an area where you would be afraid to share your faith. Maybe it’s in front of your friends, a specific family member, or in front of a group of people. Then, take a moment to pray and ask God for the courage to share your story.
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