Again Peter said that it was not true. A short time later, some people were standing near Peter. The people said, "We know you are one of those people that followed Jesus. You are from Galilee, the same as Jesus." Then Peter began to curse. He said strongly, "I promise to God that I don't know this man you are talking about!" After Peter said this, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus told him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter was very sad and began to cry.
— Mark 14:70-72 NLT
Key Thought
Peter swore that he didn't know Jesus. Then he heard the rooster crow and he realized the bitter truth. Not once... not twice... but three times he denied his Lord. The third time he even cursed and used an oath to deny Jesus. How could he have done it? How could he have slipped so far? Only minutes earlier he had been willing to draw a sword and take on the armed group that had come to arrest Jesus. Where had his courage, his conviction, and his commitment gone? We must realize that none of us is strong enough to guarantee we won't fail or abandon our Lord at times. However, the test we face involves two parts. The first part is the pressure to sin. If we yield to that temptation and sin, the second is to have the courage to recognize it as sin, be convicted to the core of our hearts of that sin, and to change our hearts and behavior to return to our deeply held allegiance to the Lord.
Today's Prayer
O Father, give me courage. I want to demonstrate my allegiance to you, your Son, and your Kingdom no matter what my outward circumstances and pressures may bring. But, dear Father, if I fail and sin, please help me to have the courage to recognize it, to be emotionally convicted by it, and to be spiritually committed to come home and show that it was an exception to a life lived wholly for you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- Luke 22:31-32
- John 21:15-19
- Mark 14:38
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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