Denying Jesus

Background Scripture: Luke 22
Lesson Scripture: Luke 22:54-62; Matthew 10:32-33

Introduction

The account in this lesson is told in all four gospels. At the last supper, only hours before today’s story, Peter had said, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he [Jesus] said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me” (Luke 22:33-34). Peter’s declaration of willingness to suffer alongside his Lord is likely the language of all of our hearts. Without this willingness, can we honestly declare we love Jesus? We are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The verses quoted above also reveal that Jesus knows the true state of our heart in spite of what our words may be. At times, God will allow circumstances that will prove our hearts so that we can recognize the truth about ourselves as He sees it. Sometimes it is through test and affliction that grace and true strength of character is revealed.

Key Verse

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself (2 Tim. 2:12-13).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

In the setting of today’s lesson, shock is the only word that fits. The disciples’ world was turned upside down. Their Lord and Master had been arrested. Jesus is the Man who can walk on water and command a storm to be still. He is the Man who can feed five thousand people with five loaves and two small fishes. He is the Man who can raise dead bodies back to life. When a hostile crowd tried to hurt Him, Jesus simply walked through the crowd and away from them, unharmed. But now his arms were tied behind his back, and a mob was taking Him to the high priest’s house. What was going on? How could this be?

In spite of their brave words and good intentions only hours earlier, the Bible reveals that every disciple turned and fled, leaving Jesus alone with the mob. We do not know what most of the disciples then did, but we do know that two of them recovered somewhat from their fright and flight. John was admitted to the high priest’s house because he was a relative and could observe the trial. Peter followed afar off, and when he also arrived at the high priest’s house, John was able to have him admitted.

It seems that Peter must have stayed somewhat off to the side, not at the center of things. He was warming himself at a fire in an open space with some servants.

The maid who had let Peter in at the door was the first to accuse him. Perhaps impulsively, without thinking and without meaning to, he blurted out a denial, but this event brought him to the attention of those around the fire with him. He was accused of being a disciple of Jesus again, and for a second time, he denied any acquaintance with Jesus.

His actions became more weighty. The guilt of his first lie weighed upon him, and he couldn’t really brush it off as impulsiveness a second time. Knowing that he had lied once, he deliberately did it again. How his heart must have been torn! His honest love for Jesus had put him in this place, but his greater love for himself was leading him into self-protection.

Then he was accused a third time. Mark’s Gospel tells us that this time Peter denied with cursing and swearing. We do not know how close they were, but Jesus could see Peter. Jesus turned and looked at him—did their eyes meet for a second? The cock crowed, and a broken-hearted man went out into the night and wept bitterly.

Practical Truths for Today

Jesus said He will return one day. When He does, it will be as Judge of all the earth. God forbid that our eyes should look into his only to realize we have denied Him. Jesus also plainly said that at the judgment many will claim to know Him, but they will find out that they really do not. Read Luke 13:24-30.

When Peter denied any acquaintance with Christ, it was because of fear. He loved his own self more than he loved Jesus. He kept himself at a distance from the Lord. This can bring our own lives into focus. In what kind of ways can self-love lead us to deny our acquaintance with Jesus?

“Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33). Do the doctrines of the Bible feel like a prison? Do we feel confined, dwelling on what we cannot do or cannot have?

We are called by Jesus to a life of self-denial, which requires dying to self. Dying to self is a hurdle that many Christians stumble over. It is painful because it destroys our pride. Resistance to the doctrines of the Bible is really a resistance to Christ Himself and is an unwillingness to fully identify with Him.

Young people can face a challenge with outward appearance. Some youth may feel embarrassed by their parents’ modest or humble appearance and remain at a distance from them in public, not wanting to be identified with them. We are tempted with an outward appearance that is acceptable to the carnal world. Our selfish nature craves approval, and dressing in a fashionable way appears to be a way to gain that approval. The way that the Christian head covering is worn shows our respect (or lack of it) for that doctrine. Our outward appearance (clothes, vehicles, adornments) reveals whether or not we identify with the humble, modest Spirit of Christ.

Resistance to the authority of God caused humanity’s downfall in the garden of Eden, and we have all been infected. Our proud, fallen natures do not want to submit. Some may say that of course they will submit to God; it is the church they have a problem with. But this is placing our own feelings and opinions on the seat of authority, thereby keeping self alive. Jesus very clearly vested his authority in the church. This is his plan, his design. Read Matthew 16:18-19; 18:17-18 and John 20:22-23. Are we willing to go with Jesus, even unto the death of self?

The account of Peter’s denial is written for our sake. Peter had another chance, and he took it and repented. To wait until judgment day to confront the truth about himself would have been eternally fatal, and so it will be for us too. If anyone needs a second chance, today is our day. Today’s key verse cannot be misunderstood; if we deny Him, He will deny us.

Illustration

For today’s illustration, we will finish the story of Peter as the Scripture reveals it. It is important to understand that Peter was not a converted man at the time of our Lord’s crucifixion. He did not have God’s Holy Spirit within to strengthen him. Jesus revealed this when He predicted Peter’s denial: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). The day of Pentecost is when Peter and about 120 other disciples received the Holy Spirit, as revealed in Acts 2.

Let us go to Resurrection Sunday, three days after Peter’s denial. Mark’s Gospel reveals this detail: early in the morning, when some women went to the tomb, “they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here. . . . But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee” (Mark 16:5-7).

“And Peter . . .” Jesus, through the angel, reached out especially to Peter. Where was Peter during the crucifixion? Had he separated himself from the other disciples in his shame? We do not know, but we do know that Jesus wanted Peter to understand that he was still included.

John’s Gospel tells us that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was yet dark. She saw the stone rolled away, but it is not recorded that she saw an angel. Apparently, she assumed that the grave had been robbed, and she immediately ran to Simon Peter and John and told them, so those two ran back to the sepulcher. John, outrunning Peter, arrived first and looked in. Peter came to the tomb and went in, and John followed him in. They both saw the grave clothes lying about, and John believed. Luke’s Gospel says this about Peter: “He beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke 24:12).

A further detail is found in Luke’s Gospel. Two disciples left Jerusalem to travel to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles distant. Jesus joined them as they walked, but vision was withheld from them so that they should not recognize Him. After He revealed Himself, He vanished. “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon [Peter]” (Luke 24:33-34).

Though the Scriptures do not record the details, Peter evidently had a special, private visit with the risen Jesus sometime that day before any of the other disciples. This is confirmed by Paul in 1 Corinthians in a list of all those who saw the risen Christ: “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve” (1 Cor. 15:5). Cephas is the name that Jesus Himself gave to Peter when they first met, recorded in John 1:42.

“And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33). The Lord allowed this to come to pass. According to tradition, Peter’s career as an apostle of the gospel came to an end in Rome. He was arrested and executed, joining the growing ranks of martyrs of that time. He was crucified like his beloved Lord, but he requested to be crucified upside-down because he considered himself unworthy to suffer in the same manner that Jesus did. Tradition tells us his request was granted.

Peter fell and rose again, and he has something to tell us. Let us follow his advice: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10).

Questions

1. How do we understand the last sentence in the introduction?
2. How do we make our calling and election sure?
3. Looking back, can we see times that we denied Jesus? Share with the class.

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).