But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all of them said the same thing.
Mark 14:31 NET
What does it mean to deny Jesus? For Peter, it meant verbally denying that he knew who Jesus was—denying that he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Not once, but three times in one night.
But is that the only way I might deny Jesus? To verbally proclaim that I don’t know him? Or am I guilty of this in less obvious and more subtle ways?
How often do I proclaim that Jesus is Lord and yet fail to obey him—doing what I want instead? Is that not a form of denying him?
How often do I feel God leading me to do something but fail to trust that he will enable me to accomplish it? Is that not also a form of denying him?
And how often do I fail to spend time with him, reading my Bible, meditating on what it might say to me, and seeking his face in prayer? Is that not a way that I might deny him the place in my life he desires?
I am grateful for Peter’s story of denial here. It tells me that, despite the many times I deny Jesus, in so many ways, he does not reject me but is always ready to renew me in my walk with him.
But Peter’s story also tells me I should be broken-hearted when I recognize my disobedience. To not lightly dismiss my denial of Jesus as a trivial thing, excusing it because, after all, I am only human.
We all fail him in many ways. When we do, we should repent and seek forgiveness—knowing that Jesus stands ready to forgive and restore.
