Daily Devotional Saturday 25th January 2020

by William Moody

Luke 22:54–62

Peter Denies Jesus

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

(ESV)

The prediction of Peter’s betrayal now comes true (see v34). There are clear steps to Peter’s fall. There was his pride (v33), failing to pray (v45), trusting in physical methods (v50), travelling at a distance from Jesus (v54) and mixing with Christ’s enemies (v55).

Are you guilty of any of the above mistakes? Pray about this!

Peter’s denial is so bad as it happened three times (v56-60). But before we point the figure at Peter we each need to consider if there are times when we fail to take a stand for Jesus as we should.

After his third denial and the cock crows (v60), Jesus looks straight at Peter (v61). How must have Peter felt (see v62)?

How do you think you will feel when one day you gaze into the face of Jesus? Let us trust and live so that we need not be ashamed. It is important by keeping a short account with Jesus by confessing sin regularly.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.