Peter’s First Denial

Walk with Him in forgiveness of sins and sin…

John 18:15-18

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The picture of Peter standing near the fire to warm himself is a mighty powerful image. A man who is cold and seeking to warm himself at a fire is asked a question. Perhaps they would have asked him to leave the fire and be cold. Perhaps they would’ve beat him or stoned him, as many were not fond of those that followed Jesus at this time. The situation that Peter was in is no excuse for denial, but we have all been there. You will find yourself there again.

To choose what is easy and comfortable is human nature. After all, when you are hot you seek cool water. When you are cold, you seek warmth. It is the way of this world. We are slaves to our flesh, and our flesh cries with it the mighty weight of sin. Not sons, as those have been fogiven. But rather our flesh carries sin. Sin as a state of being. I assimilate sin to being underwater…all the time. With sin being the water.

So, how do we breathe? Jesus! Jesus is how we breathe. He has taken our sins away with His blood. Through the cross, we are reminded that sin can also be overcome through our carrying of the cross the way that Jesus did. To carry the burden of sin and bare the yoke the way that He did. We need to beat ourselves up over sin. Repent! Change! The rest is His responsibility. Do not let guilt and fear rule your life. That’s too heavy. Walk past the sin. Walk past the denial of Him. You are forgiven. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK