Slices
Prepare
Come before your Holy Father as you are. There is no need to pretend to be any more or less. You are seen, welcomed and cherished.
Bible passage
Peter disowns Jesus
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said.
68 But he denied it. ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entrance.
69 When the servant-girl saw him there, she said again to those standing round them, ‘This fellow is one of them.’ 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’
72 Immediately the cock crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.
Explore
This story is often used as a kind of cautionary tale: don’t be a cowardly, unfaithful friend of Jesus like Peter! But I don’t read it that way. In fact, I find it profoundly heartening.
Just a few hours before Peter’s denials, Jesus told him what he’d do. By linking it to the cock’s first morning crows, he made sure Peter would remember the prediction. Jesus was fully aware of how Peter would handle this situation and would go on to die for him, and he gave him a pivotal role in building the brand- new church.
For all Peter’s good intentions and high hopes for himself, he buckled under the pressure. To his credit, he had followed Jesus into what amounted to a den of very hungry lions. But survival instinct kicked in, as it would for most of us, and he was forced to face the fact that he was not the friend to Jesus he thought he was.
Any pride growing unchecked was decisively uprooted. From then on, he’d know God’s love was undeserved and grace-filled, and therefore not vulnerable to his failings. For us, this is a story to remind us that, as 2 Timothy 2:13 says, ‘if we are faithless, he remains faithful’.
Respond
Do you believe you are holding up your end of your relationship with Jesus quite well? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the matter.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 9,10; Mark 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for God’s wisdom and unity for the newly formed South team, which combines the previous South East and South West teams to ensure even spread of staff across the entire south region. Pray that the new team leader will settle quickly, build strong connections, and lead with vision and purpose, inspiring churches to Reveal Jesus to the 95.
