Today we are reading Matthew 26. In this chapter we read about the night when Jesus was betrayed. The chapter concludes with Peter’s denial of Jesus.“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:69-75 ESV All the disciples had said they would die for Jesus and all of them fled when the mob came. Peter’s denial happened because Peter followed from a distance and stayed close enough to observe what was happening to Jesus. Where were the other disciples? Were any of them accused of being with Jesus? We read about Peter but all of the disciples were equally fearful and less than faithful to the promise they had made to Jesus. In our lives we also have times where we deny Jesus and break our promises to Him. Jesus always keeps His promises to us and when we wander He eagerly waits for our return. Pastor Tim
