From Denial to True Discipleship
- Pastor Gary Rideout
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
Peter responded, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s words: “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.
Luke 22: 60-62
In the last days of Christ’s earthly life, we read about the disciples of Jesus, those followers who were the closest to him, that looked to Him as their leader. These are the ones that followed Jesus’s examples, listened to His teachings, saw the miracles He performed. Jesus showed them the path of obedience, but let’s look at the actions of His so-called followers in these events of the Holy Week.
At their last meal together, the topic of discussion was which of them was the greatest. Later they fell asleep when Jesus asked them to stay up with him as he tormented over what was about to happen to him. One follower wanting to protect Jesus, drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the crowd who came to arrest him. All ran away when Jesus was arrested. Another denied even knowing how Jesus was, not once but three times. And another betrayed him to the very ones that wanted him dead.
Sometimes we look back at these events and wonder how the disciples could defy and turn their backs on Jesus. However, we too claim to be Jesus’s followers, yet we act out of jealousy and competition. Sometimes we are like the well-meaning man who cut off the ear. Under the appearance of defending Christ, we harm others by dreadful means. Like Peter we proclaim with our words that we will follow Jesus even to prison and death.
But in the shadow of the flames, we deny knowing him. Our denial takes the form of unkind words, hateful acts and taking advantage of the weak and marginalized. Like his followers on that Friday morning long ago, we huddle around the fires fearful of one another rather than loving one another. We too are followers, but far too often we follow from a distance. On this Good Friday, we too crucify our Lord.
In what ways do we deny Christ, follow at a distance, hurting others in the name of the Lord? Pray that Christ will give us the faith and spirit to be a true follower.