Mark 14:54
With the sound of the rooster rehearsing in his ear, Peter followed the accused Christ
a-t -a- d-i-s-t-a-n-c-e .
Peter knew he didn't want to identify too closely. Wonder what ruled his heart?
As they hurled insults and injury at Jesus in the Courtyard, Peter warmed himself from afar by the fire. And a mere girl, not a savage but a servant, recognized Peter. It was a mere statement: "You were with the Nazarene, Jesus...this man is one of them." Denied. Denied. And Peter's answer sent the rooster crowing out loud. Denied three times. Oh, I am just like Peter. When it's convenient. When it's safe. When it's hard. Mark 14:72 - Peter's response: He thought about it and wept. Oh to live so aware of the sin that reigns within our hearts. That's a good place to be. No denial there. Romans 7:5 - the commandments of God arouse the sin within....that's crushing. Will I be like Peter or Judas with my sin? The sin of betrayal.
"Lay your deadly doing down.
Down at Jesus feet.
Stand in Him, in Him Alone.
Gloriously Complete." Unknown
The gospel is:
you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe
yet you can be more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope
at the same time because Jesus Christ lived and died in your place. . . .
Tim Keller
Mark 14:60 -61"In the middle of this, the Chief Priest stood up and asked Jesus, "What do you have to say to the accusation?" Jesus was silent. He said nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe Chief Priest tried again, this time asking, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?"
62Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you'll see it yourself:
The Son of Man seated
At the right hand of the Mighty One,
Arriving on the clouds of heaven."
63 -64The Chief Priest lost his temper. Ripping his clothes, he yelled, "Did you hear that? After that do we need witnesses? You heard the blasphemy. Are you going to stand for it?"
They condemned him, one and all. The sentence: death."
This passage is disturbing to me, it is doubly so reading it during Lent, a time of reflection of Christ's sacrifice.
Have I denied Him?
How about not giving Him the praise and honor He deserves?
How about the times I haven't witnessed when I had the chance?
And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
ReplyDeleteI think of the times as I sinned and knew it was sin, never realizing I was denying Christ at the time.
I pray I am obedient to listen to the Holy Spirit when He convicts me of my sin. I pray I remain in attitude of repentance.
Annette H
That's what struck me here, too--Peter hearing the rooster's call, remembers Jesus's words-you'll deny me three times. And he wept. Sorrowful at his own failure, the promise he wanted to keep but didn't, the heart willing but the flesh so weak...
ReplyDeleteWho among us is not like Peter, or like you said, Bev, like Judas? We all betray and deny and sin. It's what we do with it afterward. Oh sinner, confess and return to Your Christ. Help us, Lord, to turn away from sin and toward yYou.