No Denial

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NO DENIAL

John 18:25-27

25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." 26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

NIV

John leaves out the part about Jesus turning to look at Peter as the rooster begins to crow, while Luke includes it, along with indicating Peter realized what had just happened and went outside and wept bitterly. Although we could focus on the three denials of Peter there is a life application for us in something else here. It does not seem like much, but Peter was standing along with some of the men who were part of the arresting party who had built the fire for their own warmth. Was Peter just trying to blend in with all of them, hoping no one would know who he was, just to enjoy the comfort they had provided for themselves? Then when he was questioned about his identity he refused to admit the truth. Was it not so he would not be arrested too, or so that he could continue to be warmed by the fire? Both Luke and Matthew gives us some more details about the vehement way Peter denied his association with Jesus, but the point here is why he did. Not either John, Luke or Matthew indicate Peters reasoning for such a forceful denial, but we can be certain it was not because Jesus said he would, but that he would and the reason Jesus told him he would was because Jesus knew he would. So why did he deny him? If it was fear, that would not apply since at the arresting scene, in front all the soldiers and officials,  he took a sword and chopped of a man’s ear in an attempt to defend Jesus. So maybe he was just about trying to stay warm on a chilly night or perhaps he was just trying to stay close to Jesus without drawing any attention to himself. Either way he was trying to remain inconspicuous, blending in. Do we try to remain inconspicuous, blending in so not to draw any attention to the fact we are followers of Jesus so we can enjoy the comfort the world offers? If asked, do we simply tell people what church we attend, like so many non-believers do, or do we tell people we are followers of Jesus that we are born again, Spirit filled bible thumping believers? Let us make sure we do not deny him in any way of our life.