Gospel

Deny, Deny, Deny

by Roland Crim
07/09/18
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Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 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 26:69-75 NIV

We see, herein, that it is not just that Peter denied the Lord. The first denial was made before all present. They all heard it. So, then Peter went out to a different area, wanting to avoid further confrontation. It didn’t work. Now, the second denial, we are told, was made with an oath. Peter was really beginning to feel cornered. Out of fear, He really goes out of His way to deny the Lord, even taking an oath. Finally, when the last denial comes forth from His mouth, Peter is so angry, upset, and backed into a corner, that He calls down curses. Peter is extremely adamant in his denial.

What do we do in our denials of the Lord? Do we try to mask them, hoping not to be noticed? Who do we think we fool? We might certainly fool ourselves, as we cannot fool the Lord. Why do we deny the Lord? The reasons can be many. Maybe, like Peter, we feel fear. Maybe the way the Lord is trying to direct us does not fit in with that which we seek. There could be many other reasons. But, when it comes down to it, it is a denial of the Lord and that which He asks of us. We must step aside from our desires and ways of wanting to do things, to do as the Lord directs.

Just as Peter went out and wept over His denials, we must approach the Lord with our denials, seeking forgiveness and repenting. Only in truly seeking forgiveness for our wrong action can we truly be reconciled. Christ will not withhold reconciliation from a repentant heart.