The scene was a courtyard outside a judicial building. A man stood warming himself near a fire on a cold night. One could hardly find fault with someone for doing that. But, the problem was in what was said, and someone who stood nearby. For the man by the fire, it was truly the darkest night of his life.
"Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself ... Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, 'You are not also one of His disciples, are you?' He denied it, and said, 'I am not.' One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, 'Did I not see you in the garden with Him?' Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed." (John 18.18, 25-27)
Once by a door, and twice by a campfire, the apostle Peter denied any association with Jesus. This from a man who swore most vehemently that he would stand by Jesus through thick or thin. His self-determination evaporated into pitiful denial when the hour of crisis came.
Rather than being an object of blame, Peter serves as a lamentable example of the danger of human confidence. Our loud assertions can just as easily be blatant denials. Our commitment can melt in the face of adversity just as easily if it is backed only by self-will.
Peter who denied who later become a spiritual dynamo on the Day of Pentecost. The difference between the denial and the dynamo would be deep remorse, and Spirit enabling. He who denied would weep bitterly, and regret deeply. Jesus Himself would allow Peter three affirmations of commitment to eradicate his denials. Sufficiently humbled and redirected, he went on to walk the life of the Spirit provided by the exalted Christ.
Our denials may not take the same form as Peter's. Our more subtle "silent witness" may be comparable to Peter's vehement verbal denial. Whatever form they take, we too can be reinstated through remorse and recommitment. Humbly acknowledging our shaky commitment sets us on the path of Spirit empowering, and victory.
My prayer for us today is that we stand and serve, not in self-determination, but in the might of God's Spirit.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
"Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself ... Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, 'You are not also one of His disciples, are you?' He denied it, and said, 'I am not.' One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, 'Did I not see you in the garden with Him?' Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed." (John 18.18, 25-27)
Once by a door, and twice by a campfire, the apostle Peter denied any association with Jesus. This from a man who swore most vehemently that he would stand by Jesus through thick or thin. His self-determination evaporated into pitiful denial when the hour of crisis came.
Rather than being an object of blame, Peter serves as a lamentable example of the danger of human confidence. Our loud assertions can just as easily be blatant denials. Our commitment can melt in the face of adversity just as easily if it is backed only by self-will.
Peter who denied who later become a spiritual dynamo on the Day of Pentecost. The difference between the denial and the dynamo would be deep remorse, and Spirit enabling. He who denied would weep bitterly, and regret deeply. Jesus Himself would allow Peter three affirmations of commitment to eradicate his denials. Sufficiently humbled and redirected, he went on to walk the life of the Spirit provided by the exalted Christ.
Our denials may not take the same form as Peter's. Our more subtle "silent witness" may be comparable to Peter's vehement verbal denial. Whatever form they take, we too can be reinstated through remorse and recommitment. Humbly acknowledging our shaky commitment sets us on the path of Spirit empowering, and victory.
My prayer for us today is that we stand and serve, not in self-determination, but in the might of God's Spirit.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:59 AM
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