Denied!

Mark 16:7
7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

Back in His earlier ministry, Jesus stated that anyone who would deny Him before men, He would also deny before His Father, God, in Heaven. That’s some pretty harsh language, and frightening, for haven’t we all at some point denied Christ? For some of us that denial was with friends, making fun of those crazy Christians and their churches. For some of us it was in living a lifestyle of worldliness and completely ignoring even the existence of Christ. For still others, it was while being a Christian and denying Christ before men by living the same life, doing the same things, acting the same ways.

Poor Peter, the rock. He was such an all-or-nothing kind of guy, full of spirit and ready to throw down and fight for what he believed. He was a man called by Christ to teach and lead. He witnessed firsthand the miracles Christ performed. He even walked on water with Him. Peter had a loyal faith about him that isn’t found in the average man. He was courageous and he was a fighter. Peter would fight to the death for Jesus and demonstrated his willingness to do so in the Garden when he cut off the soldier’s ear. Peter had a flaw, though. Being so caught up in the Law and what was “right”, being so firmly rooted in his understanding of why Christ came, Peter failed.

On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him not just once, but three times before men. The rock crumbled under the pressure. Peter’s humanness emerged as he watched Jesus being dragged off to be beaten and killed. His “fight” mechanism became a “flight” mechanism and chose the route of self preservation over the life of his friend. I’m sure that when he heard the rooster crow Peter thought of Jesus’ words about denial and considered himself lost! (ref. Matthew 10:33)

Thankfully, Jesus knew this was going to happen. He knew that not only Peter would deny Him, but that all of us would. He knew that His death on the cross was the once and for all atonement for all sins, including denying Jesus before men. Jesus knew that Peter’s heart was in the game, but that his body wasn’t on the team. He knew that we would struggle with the same issue; having a heart for Christ, but not the courage to testify to His name before men! That is why after Jesus’ resurrection, the angel said to go tell the disciples, EVEN PETER, that Jesus was going to be waiting for them at Galilee. I think Peter was the first one there!