Matthew 26:59-75 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 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.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 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.
Jeff Reed
Hillside Covenant Church
Observation: I notice that before Peter’s sad denial of Jesus, Matthew says that he was following Jesus at a distance (verse 58). It makes me think that the further separated we get from Jesus, the easier it becomes to deny Him.
Action: I am going to try to stay closer to Jesus by observing a mid-day prayer break of ten minutes, using the Divine Office app on my iPhone, right in the middle of my busyness, there where it’s easiest to lose sight of Him in the traffic.
Observation: I see how Jesus was charged with “worthy of death.” As Jesus gave His life, I am now able to be charged with “worthy of life” and receive Christ’s life, eternal life. What worth!
Application: I know Jesus died for the sins of the world. Today, I will take a zoom lens and reflect on how the blows He received, the insults he heard and spit that hit Him were absorbed for me…for my sin. I will journal from a heart of gratefulness and worth….
I really like Jeff’s idea of the 10 minute mid-day prayer break. I’m going to do that too.
Jeff, I think your observation is profound. When I follow Jesus at a ‘safe’ distance, when I allow my pain to put space between me and Jesus, or when shame, doubts, fear, busyness or anything else get in between me and a faithful and trusting walk with Jesus, I am in trouble. And it is why the rhythm and discipline of time spent in the word, in prayer and just abiding in His Presence is crucial to my relationship with Him. And it is also why there is such a constant battle in this area.
Action: I will be aware of how subtle and consistent are the ways I’m pulled away from a daily rhythm of time with Jesus, and I will commit to making the time each morning to be with Him, keeping the sadness of this part of Peter’s story humbly in my mind.
Lord, I hear the men, who should of recognized who Jesus was, demanding that he fit into their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah was to be. I long for Jesus’ humility to honor his Fathers call and not live into the demands of the religious idea. May I this week honor his call and not live into the demands of what others may want me to be.