Pentecost Wednesday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Wednesday after Pentecost 

Numbers 23:4-28      Luke 22:47-71

Jesus had warned the disciples about the fact that they would all fall away on account of Him. Peter, ever so self-confident, boldly boasted that even if they all fell away, he would not. Jesus prophesies that before the rooster crows that very day, Peter would deny Him three times. Both Matthew and Mark’s Gospels record that Peter then replied, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And that they all said the same. (Matt. 26:34 & Mark 14:31)

Of course, we all know what happened. It was later that evening that Peter was with Jesus in the garden when He was praying when they came to arrest Jesus. Peter struck out with the sword, but Jesus told him to put it away, and he went peacefully.

Luke’s Gospel records the coming events in this way:

Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. (vv. 54-62)

He failed!

Peter wept bitterly because his bold, braggadocio left him!
He denied Jesus. (once)

He denied Jesus. (twice)

He denied Jesus, not just denying, but according to Matthew and Mark, but invoking a curse upon himself and to swear… (the third time)

…and the rooster crowed.

And he went out and wept bitterly.

To say the phrase, “Oh my God!” is to take God’s name in vain, to use it for no purpose, to blaspheme. Yet those who label themselves as Christians do it regularly, carelessly. (They deny Jesus.)

To hate our neighbor, Jesus declares is murder. But many “Christians” claim there is good reason for it. (They deny Jesus.)

To look at a woman lustfully is to commit adultery, much less actually do the deed. But the world says that what Scripture calls adultery is not adultery, how many Christians go along with they world? (They deny Jesus.)

The pastor faithfully teaches in absolute accordance with the Scriptures, but some people will go off and look for another church to attend which says what they want to hear not in accordance with the clear teaching of Scripture (yes, there are “Christian” [sic] churches which do so – read 2 Timothy 4:1-5). (They deny Jesus.)

We wonder how Peter could deny Jesus, but too often we do it without even thinking about it. We do it because we are more in love with the world and pleasing our own sinful flesh than we are with Jesus. Our security in this life supersedes our faith in Jesus and we fall into sin, even denial of Jesus.

Do we weep bitterly? Acknowledge your sinfulness and be shed of it!

Jesus could have denied who He was/is/and ever will be. He could have gone along to get along and possibly walked free instead of trudging up Golgotha carrying His cross. He did not.

He could have denied knowing you and all mankind, denied knowing our situation as sinners, denied the will of the Father, but He did not.

He carried to the cross Peter’s denials, your denials, my denials – He who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus could have, after His resurrection, said to Peter, “Dude, I told you that you would deny me three times. But did you believe me? No! You had to brag and boast, primp and strut – like a rooster – only to be shamed by one. I have no use for you in my business, begone.”

Jesus did not do that though. Instead of casting him off as useless, He died for him and gave him the commission to be a minister of His Gospel, to feed His sheep. And in order to indelibly etch it into Peter’s mind that his three-fold denial was forgiven, Christ gave him the commission three times.

Dear sinner (Todd Jerabek), Jesus called Peter as a disciple knowing what Peter would do – and having done it – Peter is still called of Christ. What comfort this brings, for God calls sinners (Peter, Todd, you) to be His chosen instruments in this world in spite of who we might be according to our flesh. In His forgiveness, we are sent out to be different in the world. So let us be, in Christ!

Let us pray:     We ask Your blessings upon us Lord, for our Christian lives, that we would be granted faithfulness in times of temptation, repentance and forgiveness when we fall, love for all our brothers and sisters in Christ, reconciliation with those from whom we are alienated, and boldness to confess the faith we have in Christ. Amen.