How do you think you would feel if, at a time when you were in
trouble, your best friend completely ignored you, and pretended not
even to know you?
I wonder would you be as kind and understanding as the Person in
this story who was treated like that? This is the kind of Person
you need as your best friend!
The story takes place at a priest's house. A man from Nazareth had
been arrested and brought there. "Peter followed at a distance. But
when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had
sat down together, Peter sat down with them." 1*. Peter was now surrounded by the
people who not only despised his best Friend, Jesus, but who had
had Him arrested and brought here.
No doubt most of these people would have seen Jesus do one of His
many miracles. Jesus' miracles had been clear proof that He truly
was the Son of God. 2*. But these people refused to believe that He was
the Son of God and they wanted to put an end to Him and His
teaching 3*. rather
than question their own beliefs!
Peter thought very differently than those all around him at this
priest's house. Peter knew Jesus really was "the Christ, the
Son of the Living God", 4*. and that no one other than Jesus could save
sinners 5*. and bring
them to God. 6*. He
also knew there was no one else he could go to who could give him
Eternal Life.
7*.
"A servant girl saw Peter seated there in the firelight. She ..
said, "This man was with Him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't
know Him," he said. 8*. Three times that night as he was in that company
at the priest's house Peter denied that he knew and trusted
Jesus!
As the morning dawned a rooster crowed. "The Lord turned and looked
straight at Peter." Peter looked into the eyes of his wonderful
Friend and Saviour - the One he had so shamefully and ignorantly
denied! Earlier the Lord had told Peter: ‘Before the cock crows
today, you will disown me three times'! 9*.
Peter went outside and wept bitterly.
But no amount of tears and sorrow can gain forgiveness of any
sin.
I have no doubt that Peter saw love and forgiveness in that look
from Jesus his Saviour that night. Peter knew there was forgiveness
in "no one else" but Jesus. After Jesus' death and resurrection
Peter was able to confidently say, "Jesus Himself bore our sins in
His body on the tree". 10*.
Peter didn't continue to be ashamed of
Jesus! He became a fearless preacher for Jesus and some
weeks later he even told some of those very same priests and
leaders that Jesus was the only Saviour! 5*.
Do you believe that Jesus really is the Son of God, and have you
trusted in Him alone to be your only Priest and Saviour? Don't you
be like Peter at that priest's house - frightened into being
ashamed of Jesus because of religious
leaders who refuse to believe the truth about Jesus.
Read about Peter's sad experience in Luke's Gospel chapter 22,
verses 54-62.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next reading from Luke's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse further "Good News Compage" prompts and
commentary for Luke's Gospel check out the review index.
---------------oOo---------------
There will be another message for you next week.
Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 Luke
22:54-55.
2 John 10:25, 38.
14:11.
3 John 10:32-33.
4 Matthew 16:16.
5 Acts 4:12.
6 John 14:6. 1st Peter
3:18.
7 John 6:67-69.
8 Luke 22:56-57.
9 Luke 22:61-62.
10 1st Peter
2:24.
