Can You Imagine ...

Peter Denies Jesus

Luke 22:54 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.

Reading through this week of events, my eyes roamed over the above passage and became fixated on verse 61. "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter." Someday He will look upon me. I pray it is not the look He gave Peter. As a Mom, we have a variety of looks. Especially THE LOOK! All I had to do was THE LOOK and my boys would stop in their tracks. They knew they pushed Mom too far. What was the look on the face of Jesus? A look of hurt and pain? A look of I told you this would happen Peter? A look of I thought you loved me Peter? A look of disgust? A look of disappointment I am thinking. Luke's gospel is the only gospel that records this exchange between Peter and His Lord. The verb used is suggesting an intent, fixed look. Christ asked for his obedience during the prayer time in Gethsemane. Christ even reverted back to Peter's old name, Simon, Simon, during the exchange about Peter's denial that would come, remember that Christ had given him the name Peter . . .

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, [1] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter [2] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus [3] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Take note of the word "but," does not this little word bring a sense of protection? Here Christ is being the Mediator between Satan and man. SATAN HAS ASKED FOR YOU ... this should have chills going up your spine ... (has he asked for me or you, to sift us as wheat?) The trials we go through are refining even though they are disturbing and painful. When Christ says "you" the pronoun is plural in the Greek texts. SATAN wants us all, to sift us as wheat. Where Christ states "I have prayed for you" in verse 32, this 'you' is singular. Peter, like you and I, failed miserably but our faith is never overthrown! Peter declares himself in verse 33. I would like you to think upon this today -- "Is it not easier to fight for Him than it is to suffer for Him?" We are called to suffer with Him are we not? His burden is easy and His yoke is lite.

Back to THE LOOK ... consider Beloved during this very special week what look you would receive from Jesus. Search your heart and examine your mind. Cleanse yourself of all unrighteousness before our Holy God. In Luke 22:62 After the LOOK, Peter went out and wept bitterly. Are you weeping? Do you need to fall on your face before the One and Only?

Someone reading this post does not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, they do not have the peace that passes all understanding nor the protection of the Shepherd. You are as a filthy rag before a Holy God.

Let's walk the Roman Road together shall we?

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

- Admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."

Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin.

But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity.

The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire

where lost people will be in torment forever.

It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in

that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty.

He paid the price for sin.

The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us.

- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on

the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change.

His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership.

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!

Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,

ask Him to come into your heart.

Jesus said,

Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."

- Is Jesus calling you to salvation in Him?

Anwer the call today, we never know what

may happen in the next minute of our life.

Believe in Him.

Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith.

Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and

read what God says about Jesus,

about you, and about being born again.

In the sweet and precious name of Jesus -- AMEN!