07/30/2019
How many times have we disappointed Jesus, or God our Father? How many times have we felt such remorse that it drove us to our prayer closets in deep contrition, and how many of us cry tears of remorse? Peter wept when he realized that not only had he denied Christ, but that Jesus knew this was going to happen even as he was pledging his love and dedication... so great is the love of Jesus for us that he loves us while we are yet sinners, and can see our coming tears, even hearing our contrition as an echo.
“And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:72 ESV
We read this story of Peter, and it perplexes us; how can a man who so adamantly proclaims his loyalty deny Jesus at the drop of a hat. Even as we are reading the words we may be saying to ourselves that we would never do such a thing, but to this I simply respond... “really?”
“Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.”
Mark 14:29-31 ESV
We are part of the “all” who said the same as Peter. You are probably thinking “No, Not me!” And yet it has probably already happened. As I considered Peter and thought back on my life, it dawned on me that there had been times when religion was brought up in a secular group discussion, and that the Christian faith had been disparaged or questioned by someone... when I had remained silent. Does this sound familiar to you? How about a moment when someone who is suffering in some way says “There is no God... He doesn’t hear me!”, and you are silent for fear of saying the wrong thing? There are so many times in our lives when we have denied Jesus, not with our voices, but by the betrayal of our silence.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”
Psalms 22:1-2 ESV
When we hear such words, or perhaps even say them ourselves, we can then fall into silence... we can give into the idea that God is absent... or we can deny him by convincing ourselves that we are alone. We can lose our trust, and feel our faith diminishing in the silence left by unsaid prayers. We forget the promises... even if for an instant. We neglect to hold tight to God’s Word, and bury all He has done for us... wrapped in a shroud of silence.
“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.”
Psalms 22:3-5 ESV
The promises, wonders, and miracles of God remain. They are as true in those moments when God is quiet, as when they were when first occurring. What has changed is not their truth, but our perception of the silence, and so often it leads to our own betrayal, and denial of faith. We deny Him with our voice, and so often we deny Him in our silence... both voices and silence are a means of praise and worship, but they can also be used to deny, or denigrate. So we are just as remorseful as Peter was when we verbally deny Jesus, but are we equally remorseful when we deny Him by our silence? Do we break down and weep in those quiet times too?
Like Peter’s denial, Jesus knows when we will deny Him too. With Peter He already heard those stinging words ringing in His ears before they were said, and in our lives he might hear our words, but how often does he hear the silence. Sometimes when we are with those we love the most our silence is intimate, and speaks volumes, but when words are called for, and are not forthcoming then silence can be hurtful, and a form of absolute denial, and betrayal. So are you still as adamant as Peter was in proclaiming that you will not fall away, and that you would go to your death?
Perhaps you will be a modern day Peter. Maybe you will be like him and Jesus will continue to build His Church on you, and by you He will do great things, but first you will need to face your denials, both the words, and the silence, and in remorse and contrition, you will need to weep.
“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:31-33 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the lesson of Peter’s denial because without it the power of Christ’s words “Feed my sheep”, would have been lost on us, our hope in serving you in fullness would have been challenged, and our confidence in your forgiveness through his tears would not have spoken so fully of your mercy and grace. Help us Holy Father to face our own denials, and to fall to our knees in remorse. Hear our cries for forgiveness, and dry our tears with the soft cloth of grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sees us now as sinners, but knows us through the blood of Jesus as the righteous we are becoming. Praised be your name for hearing our heartbreak, and healing the wounds left in our faiths. We lift you up Holy Father, and worship you in spirit, and truth. Hear the unspoken words of love we have for you in our quiet times, and forgive us the silent denials we have shouted before the world. Your glory is forevermore carried by your grace that flows over us like clear rushing water, and in whose midst we call your name... Glory!
Rich Forbes