What Jesus Did! 'An Oath of Betrayal' — Mark 14:70-72

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Verse of the Day: The Stream Continues

Learn more about Verse of the Day and the future of our daily ministry.

 More Info
But Peter denied [being with Jesus] again.

A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, "You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean."

Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying — I don't know this man you're talking about!" And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.

Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he broke down and wept.

— 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? A short time earlier he had drawn a sword and been willing to take on the armed group that had come to arrest Jesus. [1] 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 temptation to sin. If we yield to that temptation and sin, the second is to have the courage to recognize it as sin, to 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.

[1] John 18:10.

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 temptations 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 for you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

6 Related Resources by Heartlight

Spurgeon AM Devo for Jul. 30th
Devo: Morning & Evening
"It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his denying his Lord. It is..."
One of Them!
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"When the servant girl saw [Peter] standing [outside while Jesus was being abused by the guards], she began telling the others, "This man is definitely..."
Let Jesus ...
Article by Phil Ware
What do these words mean and whose words do we trust? Phil Ware weaves in the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross with the sense of forgiveness and mission that should be ours in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
A Major Comeback?
Article by Phil Ware
How can this happen? Phil Ware takes a weird note in his inbox and uses Johnny Cash and his comebacks to remind us that Jesus gives us the ultimate comeback, he forgives, purifies, and heals.
See All 6 Related Resources about Mark 14:70-72

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 14:70-72 NLT — "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, November 23, 2024

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Suffering in This World Connects Us to Jesus'
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by C. S. Lewis:
"The Christian has a great advantage over other men, not by being less fallen than they, nor less doomed to live in a fallen world, but by knowing that he is a....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Romans 5:10
"If, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'All the Marvelous Things' (Ps. 9:1)
"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

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.

More What Jesus Did!