Bullets From The Bible 12-21-17

[dddoo7]

Peter was usually very supportive of Jesus. When the mob came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off one of their ears in trying to defend Jesus. Yet Peter’s story changed drastically over the next few hours.

Matthew 26:69-75 says, “Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Just a few hours earlier Peter was willing to die for Jesus. Now Peter is denying even knowing him. What changed? Is Peter ashamed of Jesus? Is Peter afraid for his life? Has Peter lost his faith in Jesus as the son of God? It does not tell us exactly why...but at this moment when Jesus could really have used a friend, Peter denies Christ.

It is easy to play the “Christian” Card when we are around Christian friends. Yet it often becomes much more difficult to do right when something is at stake. When we are at risk of losing something we care about it becomes much more difficult to stand for truth. Our Character however is truly defined by what we do when things get difficult. Do we stand for Christ or deny Him? Usually we do not literally deny Him with our words, but rather we deny Him by the way we act, by how we treat others, by the things that we say, and also by things we don’t do that we should. Many times we are just as guilty as Peter who when it really mattered he denied even knowing Christ. What do you do with Christ?