By Andrew Williams
“Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, ‘You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.’ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. ‘I don’t even know the man,’ he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, ‘You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.’ Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And he went away, weeping bitterly.” – Matthew 26:69-75 (NLT)
Good morning fellow disciples.
This passage reveals a pivotal moment in Peter’s life. Despite his earlier bold declaration that he would never abandon Jesus, fear overcame him in the face of real danger. Three times, Peter denied knowing Jesus, and only after the rooster crowed did he realize the depth of his failure. His bitter weeping shows true remorse, but this moment is not the end of Peter’s story. It is a reminder of both human frailty and the grace of Jesus. Later, Jesus would restore Peter, proving that even our greatest failures can be redeemed when we return to Him in repentance.
Peter’s story empowers us to confront our own weaknesses. Like Peter, we may have moments where fear or pressure causes us to falter in our faith—moments where we feel we’ve failed Jesus. But Peter’s tears also remind us of the importance of repentance. Jesus is always ready to forgive and restore us when we come to Him with a contrite heart. This passage invites us to redirect our focus from guilt and failure to the hope and grace of Jesus, who never gives up on us.
Is there an area in your life where fear or shame has caused you to deny Jesus—whether in your words, actions, or silence? Take time today to reflect on those moments and bring them to Jesus in repentance. Redirect your focus from your failure to His forgiveness. Ask Him for the courage and strength to stand boldly for Him in the future. Let Peter’s story remind you that failure is not final when we turn back to Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your grace and mercy that are greater than my failures. Like Peter, I have moments where I fall short, where fear or weakness causes me to deny You in my actions or words. Forgive me, Lord, and help me to redirect my focus to Your love and forgiveness. Restore me as You restored Peter, and give me the courage to stand boldly for You in every situation. Amen.
