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PETER DENIED JESUS (MATTHEW 26:69-75)

REFLECTION
Peter denied Jesus is the theme for our reflection. To deny a person means the intentionally disassociate from relationship with a particular person. In other words to renounce the person. Can you imagine yourself in a situation were a friend you have trusted and looked up to, all of a sudden denies any knowledge of you upon your arrest by the Ghana Police for a crime you have not even committed?

Friendship is golden and a gift from God but when the person you trust and love denies knowledge of you or renounce your friendship because of the shameful and precarious situation you find yourself, the heart-break, shock and pain can be unbearable. This is exactly what Jesus felt when Peter denied him on three occasions. “After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:73-75)

When we read Peter’s denial of Jesus, most of us become judgemental and consequently scold him, but wait!, how many of us would have associated ourselves with a person who is deemed to be a criminal and will be ready to go through the inhumane and excruciating torture, agony and crucifixion with him or her. Peter ought to be pitied in this regard, I am sure Jesus might have pitied him too. Peter is a reflection of what most of us who call Jesus Master and Lord would have done even if were to face persecution today. Many Christians will still deny Jesus today because of fear, confusion and powerlessness.

Jesus had the foreknowledge that Peter and the other disciples will not live up to their words when they said they will never deny Him. “Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me”…Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” ³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” ³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31,33-35) Jesus understood that at the the time Peter and the other disciples had not fully gained spiritual maturity and a full appreciation of the kind of suffering and death he was about experience. On the day of Pentecost and beyond, the disciples who became Apostles understood clearly their faith, friendship and mission with Jesus Christ and will go on to embrace suffering and even death on account of Jesus Christ.

Beloved in the Lord, if you have truly experienced the love and grace of Jesus Christ in your life then we must remain faithful to him and never deny him even in the face of persecution because in Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus says “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Knowing Jesus and loving him must lead us to faith and to the conviction that nothing can separate us from the relationship we have with him. Paul’s faith and conviction led him to boldly declare His love and allegiance to Jesus, irrespective of whatever situation or condition he found himself. He recounted “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) Yet Paul declared, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39) Friend, would you remain faithful to Jesus without giving any excuse in the face of unemployment, poverty, business, work and family pressure? Will you remain faithful to your calling as a disciple of Jesus when when you have all the power, wealth and pleasure you have ever imagined?

In conclusion, today’s reflection creates the opportunity for us to examine our relationship with Jesus and to reaffirm our faithfulness and allegiance to him even as we await His second coming . May obedience of His Word deepen our faith and relationship with Him. Shalom.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
What actions and inactions of yours denying Jesus as your Lord and saviour?

PRAYER
MERCIFUL FATHER, GRANT ME THE STRENGTH TO REMAIN FAITHFUL, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ENDURE HARDSHIP ON THE ACCOUNT OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. AMEN