Who, Jesus? Never Met Him!

GETTING STARTED

Have you ever denied Christ? I don’t necessarily mean literally denouncing him in a public setting. But have you ever found yourself speaking in more hushed tones when talking about your faith with a friend at a coffee shop? Or have you mildly acknowledged your beliefs when asked by a group of friends at work, but generally glazed over the boldness of your faith, or swept it under the rug to switch topics? You’re not alone. Today’s passage shows it’s an age-old struggle.

  • Why do you think even the most well-intentioned believers occasionally skirt the issue of devotion to Christ?

READ THE WORD: LUKE 22:54-62 (ESV)

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What did Peter do once Jesus was seized (vs. 54)? What may have been his original reason for doing this?
  2. Do you think Peter was aware of what he was doing when he was denying Christ in those three instances, or was it the crow of the rooster that reminded him of his conversation with Jesus? Or, perhaps, Jesus’ direct gaze upon him?
  3. What was Peter’s response upon realizing what he had done (vs. 62)? What does this imply about Peter’s heart?
  4. What does the fact that Peter’s denial of Jesus happened exactly as Jesus said it would tell us about Jesus’ divinity? How did this awareness impact Peter?
  5. Take a few moments to gauge your own relationship with Jesus. Have you failed to express your devotion to him, either privately or publicly?

RESPOND TO GOD

Imagine how Peter felt when that rooster crowed at dawn. The Bible says he wept. Peter had denied his Lord and dear friend. What’s more, Jesus told him it would happen (Luke 22:33-34). At first, Peter was incredulous that he could betray Jesus, but the truth of the matter was as certain as the rising of the sun just hours later. But God can use those who recognize and confess their failure. On that morning, Peter’s heart changed from just a follower to a repentant disciple who Christ would later use to build his church. Christ restored Peter’s heart to reveal a pivotal man of faith.

  • Take some time to confess your failures to God. Ask him to use these experiences to his gain. Ask him to change your heart from just a follower to a repentant disciple.